The state announced new eligibility guidelines on Wednesday for Covid vaccinations that apply to local immunization programs such as the Cambridge Public Health Department’s fall Covid and flu shot clinics.
Still, details about the clinics remain uncertain and the announcement added to the turmoil over vaccination since vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took over the Trump administration’s top health position.
The state guidance recommends restrictions such as having a high-risk health condition for some age groups, which conflicts with the previous decision by the governor and state health commissioner that all Massachusetts residents aged 6 months and older be eligible for an updated Covid shot regardless of their health.
Adding to the confusion, the guidance also says healthy people in those age groups “may” obtain a Covid booster, which would essentially restore the broad eligibility rule.
The announcement came the day before a two-day meeting on vaccinations for Covid and other infectious diseases by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Kennedy recently removed all members of the committee and replaced some of them with vaccine opponents.
At a press conference on the new guidance, governor Maura Healey said the state acted in advance of a decision by ACIP. Kennedy “has a team that is antivaccine,” she said. She added: “We hope nevertheless that they do the right thing.”
A possible reason for the state’s amorphous guidance is that a major source of funds for state-supplied Covid vaccines is the federal Vaccines for Children program, and it requires ACIP approval for the vaccines it provides. If the federal committee votes to restrict Covid vaccines for certain age groups based on health status, the new state guidance might qualify the state to get Vaccines for Children funds; saying that healthy people are still allowed to get a shot would open eligibility to everyone 6 months and older.
The new state guidance says:
- Children from 6 months to 2 years old: should be vaccinated
- Those from 2 to 18: should get a shot if they have a health condition that increases their risk from Covid, live with someone who does or have never been vaccinated against Covid
- Adults from 19 to 64: qualify “especially” if they have a health condition
- People over 65: are eligible.
Those in the age groups with restrictions “may” obtain a vaccination.
Ann Scales, spokesperson for the state Department of Public Health, said the guidance announced Wednesday “is not much different from prior seasons and still recommends or allows for all 6 months and older to get vaccinated but just puts particular emphasis for those at greatest risk. The universal pediatric vaccine program will still supply doses for all children 6 months through 18 years of age.”
“Insurers should still be covering all those 6 months and older,” Scales said.
Scales did say that the state hasn’t started ordering vaccine for children and uninsured adults, which could result in delays distributing pediatric vaccine, but “DPH is working closely with partners to ensure access.”
Cambridge
Meanwhile, the city health department has scheduled five flu and Covid vaccination clinics next month at which residents can get free shots – but it isn’t taking requests for appointments yet. “Sharing accurate information has been challenging this season, given evolving guidance at the federal and state levels,” local health department spokesperson Dawn Baxter said.
“We are planning to have Covid vaccine available for all those eligible; we want to be certain of what we can offer at our clinics before making specific commitments to the public,” Baxter said. “Our hope is that we will be offering Covid vaccines as broadly as we’ve been able to do in the past.”
The department was “very pleased” to see the new guidance, Baxter said on Thursday, and planned to offer Covid vaccine to anyone 6 months or older “pending vaccine supply.” As of Thursday, there were still no links to make an appointment.
Cambridge Health Alliance
Eligibility has been the main source of uncertainty and confusion about vaccination since Kennedy became Health and Human Services Secretary.
Cambridge Health Alliance was one of the first health care systems in Massachusetts to reject the initial Covid vaccination restrictions imposed Aug. 27 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limiting eligibility for people under 65 to those with certain medical conditions. And Healey, with state health officials, soon made it official that anyone 6 months or older in Massachusetts qualified to get an updated Covid vaccination.
Yet these inclusive rules haven’t made it to ground level in some places, causing confusion.
The Alliance itself posted a Covid vaccination page on its website this month that referred to federal Covid vaccination recommendations as well as two medical groups and Massachusetts.
After questions from Cambridge Day, CHA “updated” the page Sept. 11 to say simply: “Currently in Massachusetts, everyone 6 months and older is eligible for the updated 2025-2026 Covid-19 vaccine. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, nearly all Massachusetts residents can still get a Covid-19 vaccine for no or little cost.”
CVS and Walgreens
CVS and Walgreens, where most people get Covid vaccinations, couldn’t immediately give updated Covid shots to anyone in Massachusetts and two other states after the FDA approved the booster. Massachusetts rules required pharmacists to administer only vaccines approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which had not yet considered the Covid shot.
Even though the state cleared the way legally Sept. 4 for pharmacists here to give updated Covid vaccine to anyone 5 or older (younger children get their shots in a pediatrician’s office), CVS’ online vaccination appointment form still asks customers under 65 to say whether they are “eligible,” with a link to the list of medical conditions.
CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault said the chain is following the state eligibility rules, but “our digital scheduler will only allow appointments to be booked if a person attests to being eligible.”
It’s different if someone simply goes to the pharmacy. “In Massachusetts patients 5-plus can walk in to one of our pharmacies” and get the updated Covid vaccine, she said.
Walgreens also asks customers to say they’re eligible when they schedule online, but doesn’t require it when they go to the pharmacy, spokesperson Brigid Sweeney said. Neither pharmacy chain asks online customers for proof of eligibility – just for the customer to attest to it.
Clinics: Save the dates
What about the supply of Covid vaccine? CVS and Walgreen’s have stock; the Cambridge Health Alliance has just started to get it. “We have received a shipment of Covid vaccine for adults and will be making it available to our clinics and retail pharmacies shortly,” spokesperson David Cecere said. “We are awaiting a shipment of vaccine for pediatric patients” from the state Department of Public Health.
CHA patients will be able to schedule appointments for Covid shots through the Alliance’s patient portal “as they become available,” Cecere said. He also said the health care system is supplying vaccine to the Cambridge Public Health Department, which it operates under contract with the city.
The clinics planned by the health department are:
- Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square
- Oct. 23 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the King Open School, 850 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington
- Oct. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St., Riverside
- Oct. 29 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Reservoir Church, 170 Rindge Ave., North Cambridge
- Oct. 30 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pisani Center, 131 Washington St., The Port
The department recommended that people save those dates but said no appointments will be available until “vaccine guidance is finalized.” It urged everyone to get vaccinated and said that “at a minimum,” people 65 and older and those with health conditions that increase their risk from Covid will be eligible.
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