NORTHAMPTON — The city Health Department will offer the newly recommended second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines to eligible adults starting on Monday.
For the month of April, clinics will be held on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 17 Spring St., Florence; Thursdays from 2-6 p.m. on the second floor of Thornes Marketplace; Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge; and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. at Thornes.
On Tuesdays, COVID-19 vaccines will be available at several Northampton Housing Authority locations. Residents of NHA properties should check their community room schedules.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on March 30 recommended a second booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago.
Those over 50 who received Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a booster at least four months ago may now receive a second booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna only.
COVID-19 vaccination is free and does not require health insurance. Still, officials ask those with insurance cards and ID to bring both, along with their vaccination record card.
“Unfortunately, COVID is not over,” Public Health Director Merridith O’Leary said in a statement. “While many people who already had boosters or who were younger than 50 years old stayed COVID-free or only had mild illness during the Omicron surge, some of our most vulnerable neighbors still became severely ill or died.”
The clinics will accept walk-ins, but those who make appointments will take priority. Appointments can be made online at www.northamptonma.gov/2219/Vaccine-Clinics.
“We strongly encourage all community members to keep their guard up,” Public Health Nurse Kate Kelly said. “Booster doses rally the immune system to keep protecting against COVID. Boosters were very effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization in the recent wave of omicron cases.”
Kelly said those with medical conditions that increase their risk for severe illness should get their booster doses.
“We are seeing more cases as masks have come off and we need to protect ourselves and each other in order to ensure we enjoy a more normal summer,” Kelly said.
Anyone with questions can email kkelly@northamptonma.gov or call (413) 587-1215.
Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.