Homebound (i.e, in-home) Vaccination Eligibility
The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) will be vaccinating homebound residents once the vaccine is available from the state. Currently, CPHD is working with Cambridge Housing Authority, Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Council on Aging, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, and other City departments to identify, screen, and register homebound individuals for their vaccines, and hopes to begin in-home vaccinations for those eligible sometime in April. This program is for people who would not otherwise be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless they receive it in their home. It does not include individuals who are temporarily homebound; and/or able to leave the home with adequate assistance; or those who would prefer to get a vaccine in their home.
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 Vaccination Data Reporting Changes
This week, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) made several changes in the way it reports data related to COVID-19. Importantly, MDPH has worked with the UMASS Donahue Institute to update population estimates for each municipality in the Commonwealth.
Baker-Polito Administration Launches Tool for Residents to Access COVID-19 Digital Vaccine Card
The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a tool that gives residents a new way to access their COVID-19 digital vaccine card and vaccination history. The new tool, called My Vax Records, allows people who received their vaccination in Massachusetts to access their own vaccination history and generate a COVID-19 digital vaccine card, which would contain similar vaccination information to a paper CDC card. The COVID-19 digital vaccine cards produced by the system utilize the SMART Health Card platform and generate a QR code that can be used to verify vaccination. The Administration is not requiring residents to show proof of vaccination to enter any venue, but this tool will help residents who would like to access and produce a digital copy of their record.
Pilot Project for COVID-19 Testing in Nursing Homes
Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale announced that the City will partner with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard on a pilot project to test for COVID-19 in nursing facilities.