Pfizer Covid-19 Booster Shots ~ Now Available for Eligible Massachusetts Residents

~ Submitted by the Bedford Health Department

Last week, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that Pfizer COVID-19 Booster shots are now available to:

• Individuals 65 years of age and older.
• Individuals 18-64 years of age at risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions as defined by the CDC.
• Individuals 18-64 years of age who are at increased risk for COVID-19 because of occupational or institutional settings.

Boosters are available to residents at least 6 months after completing the Pfizer 2-dose series. To view more information from the CDC, please click here. If you have questions about whether getting the booster is right for you, we encourage you to contact your healthcare provider.

Massachusetts residents will be able to receive Pfizer COVID-19 booster doses from more than 460 locations, including over 450 retail pharmacies, with some appointments available now for booking. Additional appointments are expected to come online in the coming days.  Additionally, the Baker Administration is finalizing plans with other health care providers to provide access to the Pfizer COVID-19 booster. Please note, at this time, the Bedford Health Department has not received notice that they will be provided access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccines are widely available across the Commonwealth. If you are eligible for vaccine, here are the steps to find a convenient location for getting a Pfizer COVID-19 Booster: 

1. Visit the Vaxfinder tool at vaxfinder.mass.gov for a full list of hundreds of locations to receive a booster. Residents will be able to narrow results to search for locations that are offering boosters, with some appointments available now for booking. Additional appointments are expected to come online in the coming days.  Many locations will be booking appointments out weeks in advance.
2. For individuals who are unable to use Vaxfinder, or have difficulty accessing the internet, the COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line is available for assistance (Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 9AM-2PM) by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts. The COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line is available in English and Spanish and has translators available in approximately 100 additional languages.

In Bedford, 67% of our total population is fully vaccinated (pre-booster), which is in line with the state vaccination rate. Getting vaccinated remains the most important step individuals can take to protect themselves, their families, and their community. Fully vaccinated residents should receive a COVID-19 booster shot when they are eligible and the vaccine they have received is available as a booster (currently only for recipients of Pfizer). Booster vaccines are not currently available for those individuals who have received the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccine. As information becomes available, the Bedford Health Department will release further details on accessing future available booster vaccines.

The COVID-19 booster is safe, effective, and free. Individuals do not need an ID or health insurance to access a booster and do not need to show a previous vaccine card when getting a booster.  Additional information on the COVID-booster, including FAQs, can be found at Mass.gov/COVID19booster. Individuals can check if they are eligible for a booster using the eligibility tool at mass.gov/BoosterCheck.