How 6-month-old Cambridge startup CIC Health became a leader in testing, vaccinations in Massachusetts

A six-month-old Cambridge start-up is leading the charge on coronavirus testing and more recently on vaccination efforts in Massachusetts and beyond — including running operations at the state’s largest vaccination sites.

“In some ways, this fell into our laps. It has been a total trip to be able to come in and help,” CIC Health CEO Tim Rowe said. “And it’s been a relief to see people starting to get taken care of.”

Rowe, who also runs the Cambridge Innovation Center, teamed up with public health expert Dr. Atul Gawande — a member of President Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board — to launch the health company in August.

Since then, CIC Health has administered more than 800,000 tests contracting with both private companies and governments to run public sites. Earlier this month the company pivoted — this time deploying its operations playbook to start up vaccination clinics with the capability to immunize thousands of people per day.

Describing CIC Health as the “connective tissue” that pulls together the many pieces involved in setting up large-scale testing and vaccination infrastructure the Chief Operating Officer Rachel Wilson said the company’s strengths lie in logistics.

CIC Health partners with institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconness, Cataldo Ambulance, software companies, and others to build ground-up operations.

“Those 100 little things. The logistics, the freezers, safety checks — all those little details,” Rowe said.

Rowe said the company is not blind to the bumpiness of the vaccine rollout hampered by the scarce availability of shots, which are distributed by the federal government to states with little more than a week’s notice.

Finding available appointments is a process some officials have compared to the film, “The Hunger Games,” which pitted people against each other.

“We’re feeling that in spades,” Rowe said.

Expanding accessibility — especially to people who may not have cars or computers — is the next step priority, Rowe said.

CIC Health is one many companies contracting with the state to open 164 vaccination sites — including seven mass vaccination sites like the ones at Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park — by mid-February.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3oxoNdS