Cambridge Public Health Department Urges Residents to Get a COVID-19 Booster Shot

Booster shots increase your protection against COVID-19, including variants. During the Omicron surge, receipt of a third (booster) dose has been highly effective at preventing COVID-19–associated hospitalizations, the need for mechanical ventilation, and death. These findings underscore the importance of receiving a booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to prevent both moderately severe and severe COVID-19, especially while the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating variant.

COVID-19 vaccines work very well to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, but their effectiveness against infection decreases over time. COVID-19 mRNA vaccine effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 declines because of waning of vaccine-induced immunity, new variants, or both. Recent research from Israel found that vaccine effectiveness was significantly higher among people who had received their second dose within the past 6 months versus those who had received their second dose earlier. Research from the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard suggests that a booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna greatly helps to neutralize the Omicron variant in both the lab setting and the real world.

The Cambridge Public Health Department strongly recommends that you get a booster shot when eligible: 5 months after your Pfizer or Moderna series, or 2 months after your J&J vaccine. Check your vaccine card for the date of your last dose.

Vaccines are readily available in and around Cambridge. You can get a first, second, or booster dose at one of many locations:

Cambridge Public Health Department
Reservoir Church, 170 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge
Wednesday, February 16 & Wednesday, March 9
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Open to all who are vaccine-eligible, ages 5 and up. Kids ages 5-15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Ages 16 - 17 are able to come on their own provided a parent or guardian registers them for their appointment or completes a consent form.

Walk-ins are welcome. You can also make an appointment at https://bit.ly/Camb-Color.

Cambridge Health Alliance

The CHA Somerville Vaccine Center is now accepting walk-in patients, subject to vaccine availability.

CHA Somerville Vaccine Center, 176 Somerville Ave, Somerville

• Mon & Tues: 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Wed, Thu, & Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

To Register for an appointment (recommended):

• CHA patients: challiance.org/mychart
• Non-CHA patients: bit.ly/3A19n7N

CHA Pharmacy:
Walk-in (Moderna or Johnson & Johnson) for people 18 and older during normal business hours.

• CHA Pharmacy at Cambridge Hospital - 2nd floor main building
  • 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
  • Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
  • Saturday/Sunday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
• CHA Pharmacy at East Cambridge Care Center
  • 163 Gore Street, Cambridge
  • Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
• CHA Pharmacy at Malden Care Center
  • 195 Canal Street, 1st Floor, Malden
  • Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Other locations for COVID-19 Vaccination, including boosters:

• CVS (multiple stores): Schedule appointment here.
• Star Market (multiple stores): Schedule appointment here.
• Walgreens (multiple stores): Schedule appointment here.
• Inman Pharmacy (1414 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA): Schedule appointment here.
• Search by zip code for additional sites: https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/