COVID-19

The Public Health Emergency in MA ended on May 11, 2023.  Restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, were lifted by the Commonwealth effective May 29, 2021 (See:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts). The Department of Public Health issued an advisory regarding masks June 10, 2022 (See:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-mask-requirements). While COVID-19 restrictions were lifted for all businesses, municipal buildings, and events, individual entities are entitled to make stricter provisions. 

People ages 6 months+ who live, work, or study in Massachusetts should get a COVID-19 vaccine.  Current (May 2023) recommendations from the MA Department of Public Health indicate:

• Adults and children aged 6 years and older are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines if they got a bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine.
• Children 6 months through 5 years of age who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are up to date if:
  • They are 6 months to 4 years of age and got at least 3 COVID-19 vaccine doses, including at least one bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine dose.
  • They are 5 years of age and got at least 1 bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• Children 6 months through 5 years of age who got the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are up to date if they got at least two Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses, including at least one bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• You may be eligible for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses if:
  • You are 65 years of age and older and got your first bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine booster 4 or more months ago.
  • You are moderately or severely immunocompromised and received a bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine booster 2 or more months ago.
• If you are unable or choose not to get a recommended bivalent mRNA vaccine, you will be up to date if you got the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine doses approved for your age group.

Individuals looking to get vaccinated should take the following steps:

1. Visit the State’s website listed above to find out when you are eligible to receive the vaccine and a convenient location; the site is updated regularly.
2. Make arrangements for  your vaccination by:  

• Contacting your primary care provider to inquire when they will be administering the vaccine.
• Checking with your local pharmacy or the large pharmacy chains to see when they will start to administer the vaccine.  
• Selecting another vaccination site found on the website:  vaccines.gov
• Telephoning the In-Home Vaccination Line at 833-983-0485 to schedule a free in-home vaccination.

The Board of Health will continue to look for options to partner in the State’s vaccination program and will inform the community if we are able to provide vaccinations. 

For more information, please visit:  www.mass.gov/covidvaccine

Services and assistance are available including transportation to and from appointments, translation services, mobility assistance, and more. EmailVaccineEquityInitiative@mass.gov for more information.

Do you have a family member or friend hesitant to get the vaccine?  The MA Department of Public Health (DPH) webpage, Trust the Facts. Get the Vax., has videos and infographics that might be helpful to you in informing them about vaccine safety, how it was developed, and how it works. 

Expiration dates for some at-home rapid tests have been extended.  To find the current expiration date of rapid tests you have at home, please click here.  

Click here to read Nashoba Associated Boards of Health's Using A COVID-19 Home Test: Best Practices for the General Public.

The MA Dept of Public Health has a free telehealth service to help residents with COVID-19 determine if they are eligible to take Paxlovid (a COVID-19 oral treatment) without leaving COVID-19 isolation.  Individuals must be 18 years or older, have COVID-19, and reside in MA.  See mass.gov/COVIDtelehealth for more information.

Additional COVID-19 Information 

MA DPH has received complaints of scammers pretending to be contact tracers.  Please be advised that contact tracers will NOT ask for your Social Security Number or health insurance information.  If you get such a call, please report it to the Harvard Board of Health or the Harvard Police Department.  This information will be forwarded to the Attorney General's Office which is actively tracking and prosecuting such calls.  

If you think you may have symptoms, please use the following link:  https://www.mass.gov/how-to/check-your-symptoms-for-covid-19-online

For more information about what to do if you test positive or have been in close contact with someone who has: http://www.Mass.gov/isol8 

Please click here to review MA DPH's COVID-19 data reporting.

Please click here to view a handout regarding how to wear a cloth face covering based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control  (5/12/20) 

Additional COVID-19 Resources:

Nashoba Associated Boards of Health:  https://www.nashoba.org/covid-19-info

Mass. Department of Public Health:  www.mass.gov/covid19  or by dialing 2-1-1 to reach the MA DPH 24/7 COVID-19 Information and Referrals Hotline.  

US Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus 

World Health Organization:  www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

Please check back regularly on the Board of Health webpage for updated information.