WORCESTER, Mass. - The 50,000 vaccine milestone mark is in sight at the large scale vaccination site at Worcester State University.

As more vaccines becomes available, and more residents become eligible, that number will only go up. 

"We are picking up the pace as more [vaccines] become available. They have the potential to surge and provide all doses it can," said City Manager Edward Augustus, Jr. 

It has been a dual effort by the vaccination sites and the City's outreach programs that have fully vaccinated 16 percent of the city's population. Outreach programs have been bringing the vaccine into some of the hardest hit neighborhoods to help vaccinate minorities and diminish hesitancy.

"You will see a difference in the numbers. Latinos and Blacks are getting vaccinated at much higher rates. That is the outreach piece. It is different than a mass vaccination site. It is actually going to them," said Dr. Matilde Castiel, Commissioner of Health and Human Services in Worcester.

All residents in the state 16 and older are eligible for the vaccine starting April 19.

Dr. Castiel says she hopes the numbers of people vaccinated continue growing because when people see each others get vaccinated, more people will get the vaccine. The growing number of vaccinated residents is something to celebrate in Worcester, but Augustus said residents should still be following guidelines. 

In partnership with the state's vaccine equity program, the City will be holding a walk-in vaccine clinic on Saturday, April 10 at the YMCA on Main Street from 9 AM to 2 PM.