COVID-19 Vaccine Information

We are vaccinating adults and children, starting at 6 months old.

VACCINe appointments available for:

  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Moderna

For current vaccine recommendations, please refer to the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine webpage.

How to Book a COVID-19 Vaccine at SBCHC

Established patients can request a COVID vaccine appointment through MyChart or by calling us at (617) 269-7500. If you are under 18-years-old, please be aware of the following requirements:

Age Group Requirements
6 months to 15 years Patient must be accompanied to vaccine appointment by an adult, meaning a:

  • Parent, or
  • Legal Guardian, or
  • Family Member who is 18 years-old or older with consent form signed by parent/guardian

Acceptable forms of written consent are:

16 to 17 years Patient does not need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their vaccine appointment.

If patient is coming alone, patient must bring with them to their appointment a form of consent signed by parent/guardian.

Acceptable forms of written consent are:

Got the Shot Elsewhere?

If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccine elsewhere, that's great! Let us know that you got your shot by sending us a message on MyChart. If you did not receive your COVID vaccine in Massachusetts, please also attach a picture of your CDC vaccination card to the MyChart message.

Timeline of COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

OCTOBER 3, 2023

SBCHC has received its first shipment of 2023-2024 COVID vaccines for pediatric patients who are 6 months to 5-years-old.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

SBCHC has received its first shipment of 2023-2024 COVID vaccines for patients who are 5-years-old and older. We are still waiting for a shipment of COVID vaccines for patients under 5.

September 12, 2023

The FDA has approved and authorized a new COVID vaccine for 2023-2024, formulated to target currently circulating variants to provide better protection. This updated vaccine will be manufactured by both Modern and Pfizer-BioNTech. The vaccine includes a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant XBB.1.5.

The bivalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. Administration of bivalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines must stop immediately.

May 12, 2023

The Public Health Emergency has ended in Massachusetts. SBCHC is now only offering COVID vaccines to established primary care patients. We are no longer offering COVID vaccine appointments to the general public, so encourage non-established patients to seek vaccine appointments elsewhere. Visit mass.gov or boston.gov for a list of available sites open to the public.

May 1, 2023

At SBCHC, we no longer offer Moderna bivalent vaccine to patients ages 6 months - 5 years. Patients in this age range will receive Pfizer bivalent vaccines. This was an operational decision due to lack of demand.

April 19, 2023

The FDA announced that monovalent Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. SBCHC will no longer administer monovalent vaccines to patients. SBCHC will only offer bivalent Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

October 19, 2022

The CDC now recommends bivalent boosters for people ages 5 and older. SBCHC is offering bivalent boosters for people ages 5+ on the following days:

  • Mondays (Pfizer bivalent boosters)
  • Tuesdays (Moderna bivalent boosters)
  • Thursdays (Pfizer bivalent boosters)

September 9, 2022

Booster shots for most people have changed from monovalent boosters to bivalent boosters. People ages 12 and older are now being given bivalent boosters to protect them against both of the prominent strains of COVID-19. (Previously, everyone was receiving a monovalent booster, which only provided protection against one strain of COVID-19.)

These bivalent booster are recommended for the 12+ age group in both the general population and the immune compromised population.

Pfizer and Moderna have each made a bivalent booster option, and both brands are being offered at SBCHC. See the chart above for the most up-to-date information on age groups and cadence.

June 21, 2022

A COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended to everyone 6 months old and older.

May 20, 2022

A COVID-19 vaccine booster is now recommended to everyone ages 5 and older. The CDC recommends that children 5 through 11 years should receive a booster 5 months after completing their initial Pfizer series.

March 29, 2022

Additional boosters are now recommended for:

  • the general population who are age 50 and older, and
  • the immunocompromised population (all ages).

January 10, 2022

Boosters are now recommended for the general population (ages 12+) at least 5 months after a 2nd dose of Moderna or Pfizer. This is a change from the previously recommended timeline of 6 months after a 2nd dose of Moderna or Pfizer.

J&J recipients should still wait 2 months after their 1st shot to get a booster of Moderna or Pfizer.

January 6, 2022

We are now booking Pfizer boosters for SBCHC patients ages 12-15. Patients are due for their Pfizer booster 5 months after their 2nd dose.

Non-SBCHC patients ages 12-15 can also get their Pfizer booster at SBCHC if they started their Pfizer series with us already.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accomodate booster appointments for brand new patients who have never visited the health center before or for those who have only come to the health center for COVID Testing.

december 10, 2021

For 16-17 year-olds, we are now booking Pfizer boosters for SBCHC patients. Patients are due for their Pfizer boosters 6 months after completing their vaccine series.

Non-SBCHC patients ages 16-17 can also get their booster shot at SBCHC if they started their Pfizer series with us already.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accomodate booster appointments for brand new patients who have never visited the health center before or for those who have only come to the health center for COVID Testing.

November 18, 2021

For the 18+ age group, we are now booking Moderna and Pfizer boosters for SBCHC patients 6 months after completing their vaccine series. We are also booking Moderna or Pfizer boosters for SBCHC patients 18+ who received a J&J shot 2 months ago.

Non-SBCHC patients can also get their booster shot at SBCHC if they started their vaccine series with us already. We are unable to accomodate booster appointments for brand new patients who have never visited the health center before or for those who have only come to the health center for COVID Testing.

Visit mass.gov to learn more about this announcement.

November 3, 2021

SBCHC is scheduling children ages 5-11 for Pfizer COVID vaccines weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Keep an eye on our social media for other special Pfizer vaccine dates for this age group!

october 25, 2021

SBCHC is scheduling Moderna and Pfizer boosters for folks who need them. We are also scheduling Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for the immunocompromised group who need 3 shots to complete their vaccine series. As always, if you have questions about these additional doses, please send a MyChart message to your PCP.

Guide to Additional COVID Vaccine Doses (Boosters and 3rd Doses)

The general public (low risk for COVID complications, low risk for exposure) only needs one of these vaccine series to be protected:

  • 2-Dose Vaccine:  Moderna and Pfizer (mRNA vaccines), or
  • 1-Dose Vaccine: Johnson & Johnson

 

Who needs more?

Who When
Immunocompromised patients who received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna should get a third dose of the same brand of vaccine. This group needs a third dose 28 days after their second dose.
All patients age 18+ who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. This groups needs a booster 2 months after their Johnson & Johnson dose.
High risk patients who fit into one of the following categories and received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines:

  • People who are age 65+
  • People age 18+ who have a condition that puts them at a higher risk of serious complications from the virus
  • People age 18+ who live or work in an environment that puts them at higher risk of contracting the virus
These groups need a booster 6 months after their second dose.

 

September 27, 2021

SBCHC is scheduling Pfizer boosters for people who need that extra maintenance. Those groups of people are people who received the first two doses of Pfizer, and who are:

 

SBCHC is also scheduling 3rd shots of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine for patients who need a 3-shot series due to being immunocompromised. See the September 8th update for more details on 3-shot vaccine series.

September 8, 2021

According to the CDC, a person who has an immune condition must get 3 shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to be considered fully protected from COVID (i.e., for the vaccine to be fully effective). Whereas other people, who have fully functioning immune systems, are protected from COVID with just 2 shots. Because of this, SBCHC is reaching out to this small group of patients about getting the 3rd dose in their 3-shot series.

If you're unsure if you qualify for a 3rd dose, please send a MyChart message to your PCP.

Note: these 3rd doses are different than boosters, which have not been recommended for the general population as of September 8, 2021. In theory, a booster would help strengthen the effectiveness of the COVID vaccine that has potentially worn off over time. However, the CDC has not authorized boosters as of September 8th.

 

August 16, 2021

We are not scheduling 3rd doses of COVID Vaccine at this time. If you're unsure if you qualify for a 3rd dose, please send a MyChart message to your PCP to start a conversation.

 

June 24, 2021

Parents and caregivers can access free child care while they get their COVID-19 vaccine, or while they recover from getting vaccinated. Click here to learn more about the hundreds of sites offering free child care services.

 

May 2021

At SBCHC, we are vaccinating adults and children who are age 12 and older.

 

April 12, 2021

Please check with the state website for new eligibility catagories. If you are newly eligible and would like to be vaccinated, please refer to the information at the top of this page for the easiest way to secure an appointment.

 

March 18, 2021

Beginning Monday, March 22, the state has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligible categories to include those aged 60+ as well as certain workers. If you are newly eligible and would like to be vaccinated, please refer to the information at the top of this page for the easiest way to secure an appointment.

 

March 8, 2021

SBCHC has created an online mechanism to fill any last minute slots for the Covid-19 vaccine. Anyone is welcome to submit their name to our Same Day Vaccine Wait List but priority will be given to people who fall into an eligible category. Most importantly, you must answer your phone and be able to come to the health center within 30 minutes of receiving a call. We cannot leave a voice message and wait for a return call. The wait list is cleared every Saturday at 3pm and a new wait list will be started for the following week. You are welcome to submit your name weekly if you have not been successful in finding an appointment elsewhere. You can join the Same Day Vaccine Wait List through this digital form.

March 7, 2021

Beginning March 11th, the state of Massachusetts has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligible categories to include K-12 teachers, childcare workers, and school staff. If you are a SBCHC patient in one of those categories and would like to be vaccinated, you can request a vaccine appointment through your MyChart or by call us at 617-269-7500.

If you are not a SBCHC patient and are eligible for the vaccine, you should schedule an appointment through the mass.gov open scheduling link for SBCHC. We are working hard to increase access for all who would like to receive the vaccine. Please continue to check back for new appointments if ours are currently full. Thank you for your patience as we work hard to vaccine all as quickly as possible.

 

February 22, 2021

The state of Massachusetts has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligible categories to include those who are 65+, those with two or more qualifying medical conditions, and residents or staff of both low income housing and affordable senior housing.  If you are a patient in one of those categories and would like to be vaccinated, please request a vaccine appointment through your MyChart or call us at 617-269-7500.

If you are not a SBCHC patient and are eligible for the vaccine, you can schedule an appointment through the mass.gov open scheduling link for SBCHC. We are working hard to increase access for all who would like to receive the vaccine. Please continue to check back for new appointments if ours are currently full. Thank you for your patience as we work hard to vaccine all as quickly as possible.

 

February 7, 2021

We have COVID-19 vaccines available for all of our patients age 75 and older. If you are a patient age 75+, please call us ASAP at 617-269-7500 to schedule your vaccine appointment. If you use MyChart, you can also request your appointment by sending a message on your MyChart account.

 

January 27, 2021

We are reaching out to patients who are in the state's current phase of vaccination. If you are a patient at SBCHC and would like to make an appointment for a vaccine, please send us a MyChart Message (the fastest way to get on the list) or call us at 617-269-7500 and leave a message on our vaccine appointment line. Please note, our extremely high call volume has caused some patients to get a busy signal when they call. If this happens, it's because all of our lines are in use. Please try again in a few minutes.

If you are not a SBCHC patient please use the DPH website to register for vaccine with us or any other Massachusetts vaccine site. We are working hard to increase access for non-patients. Please continue to check back for new appointments if ours are currently full. Check back here for an online booking option that will be available in the coming days. Thank you for your patience as we work hard to vaccine our patients as quickly as possible.

Important tips for vaccine appointments

  • Parking is extremely limited.
  • Please arrive on time for your appointment. Patients who show up earlier than their appointment time will need to wait outside of the health center.
  • Patients with vaccine appointments should enter the health center using our Silver Street entrance (not the main entrance). This is on the back side of our main building at 409 West Broadway.
  • There is no copay for vaccine appointments.

 

January 5, 2021

The Covid-19 vaccine is an important tool to help us to stop the pandemic. We know many of our patients have questions about the vaccine and when it might become available to all.

At SBCHC, we are in the process of vaccinating our staff against the virus so we will be healthy and available to care for you and your family safely. While we don’t have vaccine available to the general public yet, we anticipate that we will in the not too distant future. In the meantime, we’re putting together our plan to get it to you as quickly as possible and to answer questions you may have about the vaccine.

SBCHC is excited to be part of this state-wide effort to vaccinate Massachusetts residents! Here are the important steps you should take to help us with this effort.

1. Get reliable information! Check out this info sheet, these FAQs from reliable sources (see links at the bottom of this article) and keep an eye on our blog for information from our medical providers. Be sure you know what sources you are getting information from and remember not everything you read on the internet (even if it comes from someone you know and love) is true.

2. Talk to your Primary Care Provider (PCP) if you have questions about whether you should get vaccinated. We know there are lots of questions about this new vaccine. We want you to reach out to your PCP at SBCHC if you are wondering whether anything in your health history means you shouldn’t get the vaccine. In general, the only people who we recommend not getting the vaccine are people with a history of serious allergic reaction to the vaccine. But your PCP knows you best, so ask them!

3. Be ready when we call to make your vaccine appointment. Know whether you want the vaccine and if you do say “yes” when we call! We are working hard to determine which patients need vaccine first. We won’t have enough for all of our patients who want the vaccine for a while. So, the best thing you can do is ensure we have the correct phone number for you and then wait for us to call. When we do call be ready to say yes, make your appointment and arrive on time!

What to expect at your COVID-19 vaccine appointment at SBCHC

Patients will check in at the registration desk and be directed to the department where vaccines are being administered. There is no cost to patients for this vaccine.

You will be provided information about the vaccine you will be receiving.

A nurse will clean your upper arm and inject the vaccine like any other vaccine you have received.

You will be given a vaccine card showing you have received the vaccine, along with information about how to sign up for the CDC’s text message check in system (v-safe), which is their way of getting information about even minor side effects. Joining V-Safe is optional but encouraged.

You will be monitored for 15-30 minutes to ensure you do not have any serious allergic reactions to the vaccine. Please note that serious allergic reactions to the vaccine are incredibly rare.

After receiving the vaccine we strongly encourage you to continue to wear a mask, practice frequent hand hygiene, and socially distance whenever possible to complete efforts to stop COVID-19

We will call you for your second dose when it is time for you to receive it. If your phone number or address change please contact us to update your file.

FAQ websites:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions 

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/vaccines-faq 

https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid

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What You're Saying

“Deserves 5 stars. Pediatrics department is amazing. Always accommodating, quick with answering questions, super doctors and staff all around. Love!”
Pediatrics
Parent of Pediatrics Patient 2024
“We are an elderly couple who have been patients at the SBCHC clinic for many years. Dr. Saxena stands out for correctness and creating a warm and very communicative doctor-patient environment. The doctor listens very attentively and calmly to everything you tell him. Simplicity in communication, diagnosis, and continuous patient condition monitoring make this doctor stand out from the rest.”
Dr. Saxena
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Family Medicine
Family Medicine Patient 2022
“The staff in the lab, Verinta or "V," is amazing. My son was literally giddy with delight at her joking and playfulness. He was actually so happy with her, he didn't react to the blood draw, but then cried outside a tiny bit with a delayed reaction like "hey, wait, that hurt." She is an absolutely phenomenal addition to the phlebotomy team! Overall, a great experience.”
May 2019
Parent of a Pediatric Patient
“Dr. Kane always asks me if I understand everything and whether or not I need further clarification... I really appreciate him explaining everything so in depth.”
2018
Eye Care Patient 2018
“There’s an emphasis on education here. Dr. Chiakpo and Marianna (a nurse in training) provided a lot of background concerning my issue and even brought in diagrams, which I greatly appreciated, since I’m a visual learner. They both gave me space to ask questions on everything. I really appreciated the time they spent with me.”
2018
Family Medicine Patient 2018