Public health officials encourage residents ages 16 and 17 to get Pfizer COVID-19 booster

  Following newly updated recommendations and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that all adolescents ages 16 and 17 can get their Pfizer COVID-19 booster if they are at least six months removed from their initial Pfizer vaccination series. Adolescents ages 16 and 17 can receive the Pfizer COVID-19 booster from more than 500 locations in Massachusetts, including at retail pharmacies, primary care practices, regional collaboratives, local boards of health, community health centers, hospital systems, state-supported vaccination sites and mobile clinics.

  Options for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment:

• Parents who prefer to have their adolescent vaccinated by their primary care provider should call their provider’s office directly.
• Visit the VaxFinder website at vaxfinder.mass.gov for a list of available locations. Residents can narrow results to search for locations that are offering the Pfizer COVID-19 booster.
• For individuals unable to use VaxFinder, or who have difficulty accessing the Internet, the COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line (Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) is available by calling 2-1-1. The COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line is available in English and Spanish and has translators available in approximately 100 additional languages.

  Vaccines are widely available across the Commonwealth. Getting vaccinated remains the most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves, their families and their community. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and free. Individuals do not need an ID or health insurance to access a vaccine and do not need to show a vaccine card when getting a vaccine.

  Massachusetts leads the nation in vaccine administration, including adolescent vaccination. More than 91 percent of children ages five and older have received at least one dose, and 96 percent of adults have received at least one dose. More than 4.9 million individuals, representing 71 percent of the state’s population, are fully vaccinated.