Gov. Charlie Baker announced a new initiative Wednesday aimed at getting more eligible seniors vaccinated. The state will now allow those who accompany someone age 75 or older to get a COVID-19 shot at mass vaccination sites as well. These so-called “younger companions” must sign up ahead of time using the same process as the currently eligible groups. While some argue the idea is a win-win situation, others have raised concerns about what it might mean for vaccine fairness, as well as seniors. Two guests joined Jim Braude to discuss the issues: Dr. Cassandra Pierre, acting hospital epidemiologist and medical director of public health programs at Boston Medical Center, and Barry Bloom, the former dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, amember of Baker's COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group and a longtime advisor to the World Health Organization.
