Virus & Vaccine FAQs

The bivalent COVID-19 booster is the new and improved shot to help in the fight against COVID-19. Bivalent means "two", as in two components, for dual protection. So it will protect you from the original strain of the virus as well as the newer, more contagious, Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. 

This new and improved booster is available at most CVS and Walgreens pharmacies as well as the state sponsored Lowell Vaccine Clinic at Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital Saints Campus, Saab Building, 2 Hospital Drive in Lowell. 

Or you can go to VaxFinder to locate available appointments near you. 

Yes. There is no problem getting both vaccines at the same time. For more information, see Coadministration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines. 

Here is what the CDC says about Mixing COVID-19 Vaccine Products

Primary Series

CDC does NOT recommend mixing products for your primary series doses. If you received Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Novavax for the first dose of your primary series, you should get the same product for all following primary series doses. 

Boosters

• People ages 18 years and older may get a different product for a booster than they got for their primary series, as long as it is Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.
• Teens ages 12-17 may get a different product for a booster than they got for their primary series, as long as it is Pfizer-BioNTech.
• Children ages 5 through 11 years who got a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series MUST also get Pfizer-BioNTech for a booster.
• People ages 12 years and older may only get the updated (bivalent) mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) booster. They can no longer get an original (monovalent) mRNA booster.
• Novavax is not authorized for use as a booster dose at this time.

COVID-19 Vaccine Dosage Is Based on Age on the Day of Vaccination, Not on Size or Weight

Children get a smaller dose of COVID-19 vaccine than teens and adults that is the right amount for their age group.

COVID-19 primary series vaccination for children and teens

The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines and dosage for children and teens, visit:

• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Overview and Safety
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Overview and Safety

Learn more on the CDC site: COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Children and Teens

Emerging evidence indicates that people can get added protection by getting vaccinated after having been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Even if a child has had COVID-19, they should still get vaccinated. For children who have been infected with COVID-19, their next dose can be delayed 3 months from when symptoms started or, if they did not have symptoms, when they received a positive test. This possible delay can happen with a primary dose or a booster dose.

Read the science about immunity from COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

Learn more on the CDC site: COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Children and Teens.

Both Pfizer (3-dose) and Moderna (2-dose) vaccines are available locally for this age group via the state-run vaccine clinic being operated by Cataldo Ambulance at the Lowell General Hospital Saints Campus located at One Hospital Drive in Lowell. Cataldo will be adding more days in order to accommodate the increased demand.

Appointments can be made by visiting:  https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/lowellcataldo.

Two key studies out of Israel, not yet peer reviewed, demonstrated protection against infection, severe disease and death in individuals over the age of 60.

• https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.01.22270232v1.full.pdf
• https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1478439/v1

 An Israeli study of healthcare workers given additional boosters demonstrated very marginal clinical benefit.

• https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2202542?query=recirc_mostViewed_railB_article

Variant-specific and combination vaccines are being studied, and more data are expected soon. It is not known whether there will be release of a new formulation of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or whether other types of vaccines will be available before you are next eligible for a booster if you get one now. Getting a booster now does mean you run the risk of not being eligible for a new one when it becomes available, but we cannot predict whether that will happen. Getting a second booster now will provide you with better protection in the near term, and might be especially beneficial if cases rise again in Massachusetts as is occurring in some parts of the world.

Protection against infection from the second booster may be short-lived, though protection from severe disease would be expected to last longer. It is possible that if you take the booster now, its protection against infection could wear off at a time when cases are higher, and you may not be eligible for another dose. This is a risk but whether it will happen cannot be predicted. It is possible that we might see a rise in cases over the next few weeks due to the BA2 subvariant of Omicron, which is more contagious.

Pfizer is still conducting its three-dose study for children under five and expect to have data in April. Moderna announced successful completion of their two-shot trial for children under six and the company is submitting their application. The shots could be available in the next couple of months.

Most of the data indicates it is. In what form is to be decided, but the hope is it will fade into the background. But as we know, with COVID-19 the future is always murky, and it’s unlikely that it’s going away entirely

It’s no longer one size fits all. The most recent Centers for Disease Control guidance shows it’s very individual, depending on the risk within your county and your own personal risk. If there is very little spread in your area, the benefits of masking are not as substantial. But if you are immune-compromised or have other high-risk conditions, it’s something you should consider and discuss with your physician.

There are a lot of options available right now. Monoclonal anti-bodies are available locally at our Saints Campus and at other sites across the state. A locator can be found on the mass.gov website. Then there are oral anti-virals, which are now being distributed to pharmacies and are available with a prescription or from your provider. Discuss these options with your physician.

I’m in favor of them getting it and there is science and data to back that up. We know COVID is bad in pregnancy. It has increased risk of poor outcomes for the mother and an increased risk of premature delivery of the child. Then you look at studies looking at vaccination in pregnant women and they show no increased risk. Pregnant women get vaccines all the time. I strongly believe the benefits outweigh any risks. If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, it’s an even better time to get it before you have to worry about vaccination in pregnancy. There is no evidence the COVID vaccines have any effect on fertility.

Omicron showed us the power of vaccination. Yes, we are seeing some breakthrough cases, but the vaccine is doing its job. The vaccine is still very effective at preventing severe disease requiring hospitalization. The vast majority of severe COVID disease and deaths are in unvaccinated people

The best way is to try to understand what their concerns are. If you come at them aggressively, they will just dig in harder. Maybe they aren’t getting information from the best source. People get spooked over a report of a side effect, and what gets lost in shuffle is the massive benefit we’re seeing.

The vaccine’s safety was studied in a clinical trial for children ages 5 through 11 and to date no serious side effects have been reported in those who received the vaccine.

Yes. The vaccine appears to be as effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection as in adults.

In this age group, it is a smaller dose – about 1/3 of that for people 12 and up. But like teens and adults, kids will get two shots at least 21 days apart.

There is a lot of good data to show the benefit outweighs the risk, for a variety of reasons. Not only does it protect children as well as it does adults, but it also decreases the transmission to other people, reducing everyone’s overall risk and helps us all get our lives back to normal. Children have now taken on an increased role as vectors of the virus.

It’s the same with children and adults. If the child has had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a known component of these vaccines (which is very rare), consult your healthcare provider before getting the child vaccinated. But it is otherwise proven to be safe and effective.

Side effects are generally mild to moderate in severity. Most common are pain at injection site, fatigue, fever and headache. These are similar to the ones observed in those 12 years of age and older, occurred within two days after vaccination and resolved within one to two days. 

In trial data, these symptoms were less severe and less frequent than in teens and adults, possibly due to the smaller dose.

No. In fact, kids are far more likely to get myocarditis as a symptom of COVID. As a vaccine side effect, it’s extremely rare in kids – about 50 per million in young adults – and when it does happen is easily treated and generally does not result in long term complications. In general, myocarditis for any reason is less common in this younger age group and we suspect this may be true of vaccine related myocarditis as well.

Yes. We have a long history of kids getting lots of vaccines all at the same time.

It is less dangerous than for older adults, but it’s still dangerous and some kids who do get it are experiencing long term complications. The American Society of Pediatrics has data showing that there have been more than 6 million infections in children, including 1.3 million since the beginning of September. We are also seeing more kids hospitalized, and in very rare cases, children have died.

There is evidence of additional benefit to getting the vaccine on top of the natural infection. Children just have to be off isolation and no longer infectious before getting the vaccine.

Some primary care providers are offering the vaccine to their patients. You can also check with your local pharmacy chain or visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/ to find a vaccination site near you.

Yes. The CDC now recommends that adolescents age 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. Learn more: CDC Expands Booster Shot Eligibility and Strengthens Recommendations for 12-17 Year Olds. 

For everyone 18 and older, the CDC says they “should” be boosted. 

No. Third doses are not permitted for people under 12 years of age.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot after their initial vaccine series:

• Anyone 18 and older may get a booter. Depending on which vaccine you got originally, there are different waiting periods for boosters. See the CDC chart: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots.
• Adolescents age 12-17 who are 5 months past their second dose of Pfizer may only get a Pfizer booster. 

For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

Read more about the CDC Expands Eligibility of COVID-19 Booster Shots.  

All currently available COVID-19 vaccine series (one shot of J&J/Janssen or two shots of Pfizer or Moderna) continue to offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have shown that protection against the virus may decrease over time. In order to increase protection a booster dose was recommended.

Read: CDC - COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots

• Additional dose after a primary series: An additional dose of vaccine is administered when the immune response following a primary vaccine series is likely to be insufficient. For example, a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for certain immunocompromised patients.
• Booster dose: Initial immune response to a primary vaccine series is thought to be adequate (for example, in immunocompetent individuals). But an additional dose of vaccine is administered when the initial immune response to a primary series is likely to have waned over time.

Yes. To date, the side effects reported after a booster dose for all US-authorized COVID-19 vaccines seem to be similar to what people experienced after receiving doses 1 and/or 2. Pain at the injection site was the most commonly reported side effect. Most symptoms were mild to moderate and resolved within 3 days.

No. Pfizer or Moderna recipients who are severely immunocompromised should have already received a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days or more from their second dose of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine. If you have not done so, you should do so now. An additional booster dose after that third will not be due until 6 months after your third dose.

If you received Pfizer as your initial series, you should get a third dose of the same dosage at least 28 days after your second dose. If you received Moderna as your initial series, you should get a third dose of the same dosage (not the booster half-dose) at least 29 days after your second dose. If you received the J&J/Janssen vaccine initially, you should get your booster dose at least 2 months after your first shot.

While the booster dose of the vaccine may provide added protection, it is still recommended that you continue to follow state and local guidance as it relates to wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, hand hygiene, etc.

We are no longer scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments for the general public and are unable to accommodate walk-ins at this time. Please visit vaxfinder.mass.gov to find a vaccine or booster appointment near you.

No. You do not need a doctor’s note to receive a booster dose. You may be required to attest that you meet eligibility criteria to receive a booster.

We encourage you to bring your original vaccine card or documentation but it is not a requirement.

Yes. It is okay to get the influenza vaccine with any other recommended vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.

At this time, the CDC has no specific recommendations for this particular clinical scenario due to lack of data. But they are collecting data as quickly as possible to be able to answer this question with more certainty. That being said, we know that overall the likelihood of re-infection after being infected with COVID-19 is low and it becomes even lower if you were fully vaccinated prior to being infected. This is because it is likely that the infection acts as a natural “booster” of your immune system, hence further prolonging protection against re-infection. We also know that to date there has been no reports of re-infections in individuals who were fully vaccinated and then developed breakthrough COVID-19 infection. Based on this it is reasonable to wait at least 90 days after COVID-19 breakthrough infection and/or until more data becomes available.

The FDA and CDC now allow for the receipt of any brand of vaccine as a booster for those who are eligible, regardless of the brand of the primary series. There are no clinical trial data to inform which combination is most effective.

• Women under 50 requesting a booster dose of J&J/Janssen should be counseled about the risk of TTS and offered mRNA vaccine. They may choose to proceed with J&J/Janssen.
• Men under 30 requesting a booster dose of mRNA vaccine should be counseled about the risk of myocarditis and offered J&J/Janssen vaccine. They may choose to proceed with mRNA vaccine.

A mix-and-match approach is only approved for the booster dose. Second doses of mRNA vaccine should be the same brand as the first. Third doses for the immunocompromised should be the same dose as the first.

Massachusetts residents who were vaccinated in-state can now create their own COVID-19 SMART Health card that allows users to create a card and QR Code that verifies their immunization status.To create your card, visit My Vax Records (https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/) and follow a few easy steps. You can also print the digital card with QR code from your computer to have a hard copy record.

Lowell General Hospital and Circle Health will NOT be offering COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5-11 at this time.

We encourage parents/guardians of children ages 5-11 to visit the City of Lowell’s vaccination center at 40 Old Ferry Road in Lowell, or one of many local participating pharmacies.

Please visit the city’s website https://www.lowellma.gov/1523/COVID-19-Vaccine for information on vaccine locations for the 5-11 age group at the Old Ferry Road. Information about additional vaccination sites outside of Lowell can be found online at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.

We are no longer scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments for the general public and are unable to accommodate walk-ins at this time. Please visit vaxfinder.mass.gov to find a vaccine or booster appointment near you. 

When you choose to get a COVID-19 vaccine:

• Pfizer/BioNTech - two doses are required, 21 days apart - this is the ONLY vaccine approved for adolescents ages 5-17
• Moderna - two doses are required, 28 days apart
• J&J/Janssen - one dose is required 

Read: CDC - Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine for Yourself or Your Child

If you choose to get a booster: 

• Pfizer/BioNTech - anyone 12 and older is eligible 5 months after the second dose in the original vaccine series
• Moderna - anyone 18 and older is eligible 6 months after the second dose in the original vaccine series
• J&J/Janssen - anyone 18 and older is eligible 2 months after the original vaccine 

Read: CDC - COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots

It is a best practice to wait 15 minutes after the dose is administered and to be observed to make sure there are no adverse reactions. Serious reactions are very rare, however this is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended precaution.

No, you will not receive a bill for the COVID-19 vaccine.

For those enrolled with a health plan carrier, we will submit a claim for the cost of the administration of the vaccine. Your health plan will not enforce any cost-sharing back to you.

You are not required to have health insurance to receive the vaccine.

At Lowell General Hospital, we continue to require our employees, patients and visitors to be screened at the entrance to our hospital and to wear a face mask at all times even if fully vaccinated.

The CDC updated its guidance:

• When You've Been Fully Vaccinated
• Guide to Masks

If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).

You can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen) after receiving your vaccine. Any swelling or inflammation at the injection site can also be relieved by taking an antihistamine like Benadryl.

Two weeks after receiving your second dose of Pfizer.

You must wait to get the vaccine until after your quarantine period has ended to ensure you do not spread the virus to others. Please cancel your appointment and reschedule for after your quarantine period has ended.

Yes. The CDC recommends that even people previously infected with COVID-19 be vaccinated. This is because the immunity from vaccination appears to be more reliable than the immunity from natural infection. You can choose to delay your vaccination until 90 days after your infection, because you can be fairly confident your immunity from the infection will last that long. Please wait until you have been released from isolation from your COVID-19 infection before going to a vaccination site.

Evidence is emerging that people get better protection by being fully vaccinated compared with having had COVID-19. One study showed that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more than 2 times as likely than fully vaccinated people to get COVID-19 again.

The Circle Health and Lowell General Hospital Infectious Disease doctors are favor of pregnant women getting the COVID-19 vaccine and there is science and data to back that up.

We know COVID-19 is bad in pregnancy. It has increased risk of poor outcomes for the mother and an increased risk of premature delivery of the child. Studies looking at vaccination in pregnant women show no increased risk. Pregnant women get vaccines all the time. The benefits outweigh any risks. If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, it’s an even better time to get it before you have to worry about vaccination during pregnancy. There is no evidence the COVID vaccines have any effect on fertility.

Watch our COVID-19: Vaccinating Our Community Videos and learn the Top Three Things to Know about Pregnancy, Pediatrics and the COVID-19 Vaccine. 

The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding. 

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy, go here.

Yes. Pregnant individuals are at a higher risk of getting severe COVID-19. For this reason, the CDC, Society for Maternal- Fetal Medicine and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly recommend that pregnant individuals have access to COVID-19 vaccines. A conversation with your obstetrical doctor or nurse might help you make a decision. For more information, visit the CDC website here.

Yes. The CDC and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine report that there is no reason to believe that the COVID vaccine affects the safety of breastmilk.

The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding. 

For more information, go here.

Yes. There are no known reactions or interactions between oral medications and the COVID vaccines.

Oral steroids suppress the immune system and may somewhat decrease the effectiveness of the COVID vaccine. If you are prescribed these currently by your physician you should not stop them unless otherwise instructed. The benefits of treatment with the steroids likely outweighs any possible risk from mildly decreased effectiveness of the COVID vaccine.

If you have normal symptoms of allergies (itchy eyes, runny nose, etc.) it is fine to get vaccinated. If you become extremely ill (symptoms other than you normally have with your seasonal allergies), you should not get the vaccine and make sure you speak with your physician.

No, you won’t get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

The CDC has updated its guidance for When You've Been Fully Vaccinated

If you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.

We encourage all patients to hold onto the CDC issued card we will provide you. Your vaccination administrations will be transmitted to the Massachusetts Immunization Information System, MIIS. Your physician and other providers are able to look up your immunization history through this secure portal.

Massachusetts residents who were vaccinated in-state can now create their own COVID-19 SMART Health card that allows users to create a card and QR Code that verifies their immunization status.To create your card, visit My Vax Records (https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/) and follow a few easy steps. You can also print the digital card with QR code from your computer to have a hard copy record.

We suggest you take a photo of your card in case you misplace it in the future. 

Yes, you should take any of your medications as regularly prescribed.

Yes, as long as the cortisone shot is not given in the same spot at the vaccine, a localized cortisone injection is very unlikely to impact how effective the COVID vaccine is in boosting your immune system.

If you are feeling well, there is no reason you can’t continue your regular activities after receiving the COVID vaccine. You may experience some soreness at the injection site, so you may want to take it somewhat easier than usual. If you experience side effects like fever or fatigue, this is normal and you should plan on taking it easy until you feel better.

Yes, you can go to the dentist, doctor appointments, etc. It is safe to resume all normal activities that you were doing prior to vaccination unless specifically directed otherwise by your physician.