Can’t get a vaccine appointment in Massachusetts? Give New Hampshire a shot.
The Granite State is opening its coronavirus vaccine eligibility on April 19 to all adults over the age of 16 — regardless of residency.
Gov. Chris Sununu announced the change on Thursday after facing criticism for initially barring out-of-state college students studying in New Hampshire from getting vaccinated there when he opened registration to residents ages 16 to 29 earlier this month.
But on Friday, Sununu’s office clarified that yes, people from Massachusetts will soon be able to head north for a jab.
“New Hampshire’s vaccine rollout is moving at an incredible pace, and we are incredibly proud of the fact that our success allows the state to offer the vaccine to any person from anywhere beginning on April 19,” Sununu said in a statement. “New Hampshire is getting the job done.”
Massachusetts will expand its eligibility to all those ages 16 and up on April 19 — President Biden’s deadline for states to grant all adults access to vaccines.
But amid warnings from local and national leaders that it could take weeks to book appointments, Sununu said Thursday “we’re going to have a lot of vaccine” in New Hampshire — and that he’s willing to share.
“It’s kind of a first-come, first-serve for anyone from out of state,” Sununu said in his press conference. “It doesn’t matter to us. As long as you’re 16-and-up, you can come get the vaccine for any reason you want.”
But don’t just hop in the car and start driving north — people still have to register for appointments through New Hampshire’s vaccine system, and nonresidents won’t be able to do so until April 19.
Sununu isn’t sure how many people will hop state lines in search of shots once he opens up eligibility. But he’s sure interested to see.
“We don’t want to be holding onto vaccine unnecessarily, if we know, especially here in New England, that there can be so much cross-border opportunity,” Sununu said. “So it’ll be interesting. It’ll be interesting to see how many come over.”
Massachusetts does not have a residency requirement for its vaccines, which are “available to individuals who live, work or study in Massachusetts as long as they meet current eligibility requirements,” the state’s COVID-19 Command Center said in a statement.
The Bay State has more than 300 public vaccination sites that could swiftly administer more doses, if and when supply increases from the feds.
More than 4.3 million shots have gone into arms in Massachusetts, and nearly 1.7 million people are fully vaccinated, according to Friday’s state Department of Public Health report.
