SENATE DOCKET, NO. 709        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1424

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Diana DiZoglio

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to COVID-19 vaccination preregistration.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 709        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1424

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to COVID-19 vaccination preregistration.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide all Massachusetts residents with the option of preregistering for COVID-19 vaccination, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and convenience.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health shall immediately establish a centralized system to provide all Massachusetts residents with the option of preregistering for COVID-19 vaccination irrespective of phase or group of eligibility under the Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Registrants shall be required to provide current contact information and sufficient information to determine qualification for a particular phase and group of eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination, including, but not limited to, age, occupation, and underlying medical conditions that have been determined to cause individuals to be at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 as specified by the Centers for Disease Control. Registrants shall be placed in separate queues based on phase and group of eligibility in order of registration. Registrants shall be given the option to request and prioritize a reasonable number of preferred available vaccination sites.

Subject to availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, as soon as practicable prior to the launch of vaccine distribution for a particular phase and group of eligibility, appointments for vaccination shall be offered to registrants within such upcoming phase and group of eligibility in order of registration, at their preferred sites to the extent possible. Registrants shall be given a reasonable period of time to respond. The department of public health, in coordination with the vaccination sites, shall employ all practicable means to allow for automated appointment availability alerts, responses and scheduling. Employers shall reasonably accommodate the scheduling of COVID-19 vaccination appointments by their employees.

The preregistration system shall be made available to the general public via internet, mobile application, telephone services, and any other reasonable means, in as many languages as practicable. Telephone services must be sufficiently staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to prevent significant wait times. The department of public health shall widely publicize the preregistration system in order to inform as much of the general public as possible, including, but not limited to, via the “AlertsMA” notification system.