CIC HEALTH & RED SOX PARTNER TO LAUNCH MASS VACCINATION SITE AT FENWAY PARK
Operation at MLB’s oldest ballpark will increase State’s vaccine distribution capacity by thousands per week
BOSTON – Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced last Tuesday that the Commonwealth will open its second mass vaccination site on February 1 at Fenway Park under the operation of Cambridge-based health tech company CIC Health. On the heels of its launch of the State’s first large-scale vaccination site at Gillette Stadium on January 18, CIC Health will manage vaccine administration at the home of the Boston Red Sox to priority groups in the State’s phased timeline.
“Mass vaccination sites like Fenway Park are critical to our state’s vaccine distribution process — providing convenient, safe, and efficient access for thousands of residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Joining Gillette Stadium, our administration is hugely grateful to our hometown sports teams for stepping up to support the Commonwealth during the pandemic. We thank the Red Sox and CIC Health for their partnership, and look forward to opening more mass-vaccinations sites soon.”
As the first mass vaccination site in the City of Boston — readily accessible by public transportation — Fenway Park is uniquely positioned to serve an urban and diverse population, among the hardest hit by the pandemic.
CIC Health is one of the largest facilitators of COVID-19 testing in New England, known for easy online scheduling, no lines, and quick turnaround. The company is applying lessons learned in the testing realm to vaccine distribution at Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium as sports venues across the country pivot to serve as immunization hubs.
“Efficient vaccine distribution and routine testing work in tandem to stop the spread of COVID-19 and set us on the road to recovery,” said Tim Rowe, founder and CEO of CIC Health. “We are proud to collaborate with the Commonwealth, the Red Sox, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and other health care delivery partners to bring large-scale vaccinations to the City of Boston. This is a crucial step to ensure vaccine access for residents who have suffered disproportionately in the pandemic.”
“Throughout its history, Fenway Park has been a gathering place for more than just baseball, and we are honored to now open our gates as a safe location in the City of Boston for our community to receive the COVID-19 vaccination,” said Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy. “Getting our population vaccinated is a massive undertaking for our public health and government officials that requires collaboration and support from a variety of industries. We are eager to get our facility up and running so we can all begin the process of recovery from this dreadful virus.”
CIC Health has engaged several partners in the Fenway Park project:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) will provide medical oversight.
Cataldo Ambulance, a medical service provider headquartered in Somerville, will support preparation and administration of the vaccines.
DMSE Sports, the event management company that supports the B.A.A with Boston Marathon operations, will handle on-site vaccine operations and logistics management.
PWN Health, the national clinician network, will offer remote customer support.
The site will follow the State’s vaccine distribution timeline and will open with capacity for 500 vaccinations per day, ramping up to administering thousands per day. The site will adhere to all vaccination protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Vaccinations at Fenway Park will officially launch on Monday, February 1. Eligible vaccine recipients can begin scheduling appointments on Tuesday, January 26 ahead of the February 1 opening by visiting cic-health.com/vaccines.
About CIC Health
CIC Health offers comprehensive COVID-19 testing and vaccination services that are accessible, fast, and easy. We collaborate with private and public entities like CLIA-certified labs, physician networks, healthcare institutions, and state and municipal governments. CIC Health is a Tech Top 50 Company in Massachusetts and a subsidiary of Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), a global leader in building innovation communities. Learn more at cic-health.com.