Massachusetts residents will get the vaccine in phases. Currently, we are in Phase 2:

• Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
• Long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities
• Emergency medical services, police, and fire
• Congregate care settings
• Home-based health care workers
• Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care
• First responders
• Adults age 55 and older
• Adults who live or work in public and private low income and affordable senior housing
• People with 1 or more certain medical conditions that cause individuals to be at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:
  • Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
  • Cancer
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Down Syndrome
  • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
  • Obesity 
  • Severe Obesity 
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Smoking
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• K-12 Teachers
• Childcare Workers
• School Staff
• Restaurant or cafe workers
• Food, meatpacking, beverage, agriculture, consumer goods, retail, or food service workers
• Grocery and convenience store workers
• Food pantry workers or volunteers
• Medical supply chain workers
• Vaccine development workers
• Transit/transportation workers
• Public works, water, wastewater, or utility workers
• Sanitation workers
• Public health workers
• Court system workers
• Funeral directors and funeral workers

 Lawrence General Hospital is eager to receive additional shipments of approved vaccine and looks forward to providing the vaccine to vulnerable populations and other people included in Phase Two and Phase Three of the state’s vaccination plan once supply allows. We continue to maintain close contact with state public health officials on their long-term plans for vaccinating people included in Phase Two and Phase Three.

The general public (those not falling into one of the higher risk categories) is not expected to be offered the vaccine until April 19, 2021.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not available to the general public, yet. Once the vaccine is widely available you can check with your primary care provider. Information will also be available on the Massachusetts DPH website.

The vaccine is being provided free of charge to all individuals by the federal government. Insurance companies are also committed to not charging any out-of-pocket fees or co-payments. Insurance companies will be charged a small administration fee.

Second doses will be scheduled on-site when you arrive for your first dose.
 
For individuals receiving Pfizer vaccine, their 2^nd dose will be scheduled on 17-21 days after their 1^st dose (with the day of the 1^st dose counted as Day 1) per FDA guidelines.
 
For individuals receiving MODERNA vaccine, their second dose will be scheduled on 24-28 days after their first dose (with the day of the first dose counted as Day 1), per FDA guidelines.
 
Per CDC guidelines, the second dose may be pushed out as far as 42 days if individuals are unable to receive the second dose in the recommended timeframe.
 
Please refer to  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html for more info.

It is an injection into a muscle in your upper arm with 2 doses. For Pfizer, the two doses are given 21 days apart with a grace period of 4 days. For Moderna, the two doses are given one month apart. There is not enough data on safety and efficacy for either vaccine to be taken together.

• Mild side effects: Fever less than 100 degrees, muscle ache, headache.
• Moderate side effects: Fever more than 101 degrees, muscle ache, headache.
• Mild allergy such as itching and redness at the injection site.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, these are not side effects of the vaccine and could be symptoms of COVID-19. Please call your primary care office if you experience any of these symptoms for risk assessment and testing.

Please seek urgent medical care for moderate to severe allergy after injection; symptoms include wheezing, facial swelling, throat closing, trouble breathing, chest pain/palpitations, or dizziness.

Yes, individuals with chronic illness were part of the clinical trials and the vaccine was recommended.

Yes, if you have no other contraindications to vaccine. However, there is no data on safety and efficacy. You may want to discuss with your medical provider.

Yes, people with chronic illness were part of the clinical trials and the vaccine was recommended.

No, the vaccine may prevent you from getting the virus, but neither will actually cure the virus. You should wear your mask, practice social distancing, and continue active hand washing after receiving the vaccine.

We don’t know how long the immunity lasts at this time.

In most cases, not yet. Please contact your primary care doctor's office to find out. 

No.

No.

No, this is false information.