A UMass Medical School professor is appointed to the state's covid-19 vaccine advisory group. He'll be part of a panel to oversee efforts to distribute a vaccine once one becomes available. The Baker-Polito Administration says Dr. Robert Finberg, the chair of medicine at Umass Medical School, will be among the group of medical professionals, elected and community leaders.

Dr. Finberg says the goal is to help deliver a vaccine safe and effectively. Right now he is also working on finding a vaccine to prevent covid-19 in people who have not been infected by the virus prior to immunization, and prevent covid-19 regardless of whether participants have previously been infected.

“I think the state is being very wise and consulting a number of people, people in the community, as well as medical experts to get guidance on the best way to roll out which vaccine and when and where. I think it shows the good judgment of the state" says Dr. Finberg.

The state has actively been working on preparedness and planning for a covid-19 vaccine since early August. ​