New CDC Guidelines Around Booster Shots
On August 18, 2021, the CDC issued a recommendation that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional COVID-19 “booster” dose. This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
People should consult their medical provider to understand whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
In addition, U.S. agencies are preparing to offer booster shots to all eligible Americans beginning the week of Sept. 20, starting eight months after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. A formal recommendation on whether Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine will likely need boosters has not been decided at this time.
Vaccine Eligibility
People age 12+ who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can be vaccinated.
Vaccination Locations
To find a vaccine site near you, visit www.vaxfinder.mass.gov. Patients without internet access can call 2-1-1 for assistance.
Reliant Medical Group is not offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments (including booster shots) at this time. We understand this may be disappointing for some of our patients and apologize for the inconvenience. COVID-19 vaccination is important for your health, and we hope you will seek vaccination elsewhere. Below is information about how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Massachusetts.
See All Vaccination Locations
Visit vaxfinder.mass.gov to see a list of all vaccination locations in the state, including local city/town clinics, retail pharmacy clinics, and mass vaccination locations.
Homebound Vaccination Program
Massachusetts has launched a COVID-19 Homebound Vaccination program for people who are not able to leave their home to get to a vaccination site, even with assistance. If you or your loved one is eligible for an in-home vaccination, you can call the Homebound Vaccination Central Intake Line at (833) 983-0485. You will be able to speak with a representative who will ask questions to determine if an in-home vaccination is appropriate. If in-home vaccination is appropriate, you will be registered with the State Homebound Vaccine Provider or referred to your local Board of Health to schedule an appointment. Learn more here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-homebound-vaccination-program
Staying Safe
Regardless of your vaccination status, we are still in a pandemic and keeping yourself and others safe is extremely important. Click here to read the precautions that the CDC recommends you take, and what’s changed, if you’ve been fully vaccinated.
Vaccine Mandates
Many companies and federal, state and municipal offices are requiring employees to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Reliant Medical Group supports vaccination for all eligible individuals. Therefore, in accordance with CDC guidelines, Reliant is not providing COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption letters unless a patient has had history of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis to one of the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html