Town of Ipswich COVID-19 Clinics to Offer Vaccinations for Children Ages 5-11

IPSWICH — Town Manager Anthony Marino and Director of Public Health Colleen Fermon wish to announce that the Town of Ipswich COVID-19 clinics will be expanded to provide vaccinations to children ages 5-11.

Clinics are held on Mondays from 1-6 p.m. at Our Lady of Hope rectory, 1 Pine Swamp Road. Those interested are encouraged to register for an appointment here. Walk-ins will be accepted while supplies last.

All clinics will dispense first and second doses and boosters of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration for those ages 5 and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose regimen, with three weeks between first and second doses.

“There has been a great deal of interest in the community about offering COVID-19 vaccinations for younger children,” Director Fermon said. “We encourage parents and guardians to sign up their children to help keep our community safe, and to reach out to us or their pediatrician if they have questions.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has authorized a “mix-and-match” approach to booster shots. Town clinics will deliver booster shots to anyone who qualifies, whether the patient received the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna regimen, or the single-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).

The CDC has issued the following recommendations for booster shots for those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna regimen:

• Those 65 and older, and residents in long-term care settings, should receive a booster shot at least six months after their primary series
• Those ages 50-64 with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot at least six months after their primary series
• Those ages 18-49 with underlying medical conditions, based on their individual benefits and risks, may be eligible to receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series
• Those ages 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on individual benefits and risks

The CDC recommends that those 18 and older who received a Janssen dose seek a booster shot two months after their initial vaccination.

Individuals can check if they are eligible for a booster by using the eligibility tool at  mass.gov/BoosterCheck.

Clinics are open to anyone age 5 and older who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts. Vaccines are free. Identification is not required. Insurance is not required, though it is accepted to help cover administration costs.

Attendees at all clinics will be required to wear masks and maintain physical distance, in accordance with current Massachusetts guidelines regarding clinics.

Other resources

The Town of Ipswich also provides information on the following vaccination options:

Vaxfinder: Visit the Vaxfinder tool at vaxfinder.mass.gov for a full list of hundreds of locations to receive a booster. Residents will be able to narrow results to search for locations that are offering boosters, with some appointments available now for booking. Additional appointments are expected to come online in the coming days.  Many locations will be booking appointments out weeks in advance.

COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line: Individuals who are unable to use Vaxfinder or have difficulty accessing the internet may contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts. The Vaccine Resource Line is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line has representatives available in both English and Spanish, with access to translators for more than 100 languages.

In-home vaccinations: If you are unable toget to a vaccine location you can call the In-Home Vaccination Central Intake Line at833-983-0485.Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Representatives are available in both English and Spanish, with access to translators for more than 100 languages.

You will be able to speak with a representative andyou will be registered with the Commonwealth’s in-home vaccine provider, Commonwealth Care Alliance, which will handle the scheduling and administration of in-home vaccinations.