Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources as well as recent legislative news.
As a reminder, I’m holding a winter celebration with hot cocoa and donuts at Raymond Park tomorrow from 10 AM to 12 PM. I look forward to connecting with constituents in person and I’ll also be collecting diapers for the Cambridge Community Center. If you know that you’ll be joining us, please feel free to respond to this email!
Table of Contents
- COVID-19 Testing Information
- State Updates
- National Updates
- Cambridge Updates
- MA Vaccination Updates
- Vaccination Appointment Resources
- Today’s Case Count
- Legislative Updates
- Mental Health Services and Resources
- Where to Give
COVID-19 Testing Information
Saturday Tests Available in Cambridge by Appointment
- Visit https://www.cic-health.com/cambridge to make an appointment.
- You will need to create a new account. You will receive test results administered at this site through the CIC’s system.
- The testing site is at 295 Third Street
- Appointments will be released at 12:00 p.m. each Monday for Saturday testing.
- Questions should be directed to CIC’s Customer Service Team at support@cic-health.com or 877-280-2937.
Walk-In Cambridge COVID-19 Testing Sites
- Monday: 4:00 - 8:00 PM at the CambridgeSide mall
- Wednesday: 2:00 - 6:00 PM at 2254 Massachusetts Ave, St. John the Evangelist Church
- Thursday: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the CambridgeSide mall
- Sunday: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM at 50 Church Street
As of November 1, the testing site at the CambridgeSide mall has returned to walk-in testing inside the mall. Learn more at cambridgema.gov/covid19/testing.
State COVID-19 Testing
To find a COVID-19 testing site in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test.
DPH Encouraging Residents Ages 16 and 17 to Get Pfizer Booster
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging residents ages 16 and 17 who are at least 6 months post their initial Pfizer vaccination series to get their Pfizer COVID booster. Residents can visit vaxfinder.mass.gov to search for locations offering the Pfizer COVID booster.
UMass Amherst Mandating Boosters
University of Massachusetts Amherst announced this week that students, faculty and staff will be required to get COVID-19 booster shots. Other Massachusetts colleges and universities with booster mandates include Boston College, Emerson College, Smith College, and Bentley University. Learn more at ihr.fm/3lTsBI3.
Pfizer Boosters Recommended for 16- and 17-year-olds
Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The CDC followed up by expanding its COVID-19 booster recommendations to 16 and 17 year olds, and is encouraging adolescents ages 16 and 17 to get their booster if they are at least 6 months beyond their second dose. Pfizer-BioNTech has found that a third dose of their vaccine can improve protection against the Omicron variant. You can learn more at bit.ly/3EO4uSM.
CDC Issues New COVID-19 Self-Testing Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a webpage with updated information on when and why to use a COVID-19 self-test. They advise self-testing if you have symptoms or had an exposure to someone with COVID-19 and suggest self-testing immediately before gathering indoors. Learn more at t.ly/UkPG.
Cambridge Booster Clinics Dec. 13 and 16
The City of Cambridge is offering COVID-19 booster clinics for people who live or work in Cambridge. The clinics will be held on Monday, Dec. 13 and Thursday, Dec. 16 at the CambridgeSide mall. Learn more at camb.ma/3pCZ4TX and schedule an appointment at bit.ly/3oH6mqQ .
Cambridge Vaccine Clinic Dec. 15
The City of Cambridge is holding a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School on Wednesday, December 15 from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Appointments are required and can be scheduled at bit.ly/camb-vax.
CHA Vaccinating Kids 5+
COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 and older are available at the Cambridge Health Alliance Vaccine Center in Somerville (next to Target). Due to high demand, vaccines are by appointment only. Visit bit.ly/3q1r4me to make an appointment. Clinic hours for the CHA Somerville Vaccine Center:
- Monday & Tuesday: 11:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Where to Get a COVID-19 Booster Shot
This is a list of a few places that we are familiar with that are offering COVID-19 boosters in/near Cambridge for eligible MA residents:
- Cambridge Health Alliance (Appointments required)
- 176 Somerville Ave, Somerville
- Mon & Tues: 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Wed, Thu, & Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- To pre-register:
- CHA patients: www.challiance.org/mychart
- Non-CHA patients: bit.ly/3A19n7N.
- Cambridge booster clinics (Appointments required)
- CambridgeSide mall, third floor
- Mon 12/13: 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Thurs 12/16: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Schedule here: bit.ly/3oH6mqQ
- CVS (Appointments required)
- 624 Mass. Ave (Central Square)
- Schedule here: bit.ly/3mgBACv.
- Star Market (Walk-ins or appointments)
- 699 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
- Schedule here: bit.ly/3uujXTv.
- Search by zip-code for other locations https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/
Toy Drive and Giveaway Event
StarlingInk Clothing is holding an annual toy drive for Cambridge kids and families through December 15. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Cambridge Community Center and 520 Kendall St. There will be a toy giveaway event hosted by Community Market on December 18 at the Cambridge Community Center. Call 857-206-9219 for more information.
MA Vaccination Updates
Vaccination Locations for Children Ages 5-11
- Pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens locations
- Mass General Brigham (for patients): covidvaccine.massgeneralbrigham.org/MA
- Boston Children's Hospital (for patients): Schedule an appointment through the hospital’s MyChildren’s Patient Portal or call 617-919-7102.
- Atrius Health (for patients): Parents can schedule an appointment directly through MyHealth Online or call their child’s doctor’s office.
- Pediatricians’ Offices: Call your child’s doctor or nurse to determine vaccine availability.
- To see all Massachusetts vaccine locations and make appointments, go to vaxfinder.mass.gov or VaxAbilities.com for children with sensory and/or other accommodation needs.
Mobile Vaccination Services
You can find hours and dates for mobile vaccination clinics at t.ly/qTMc.
CHA Offering Walk-In Vaccinations
These sites are open to all Massachusetts residents age 12 and older:
- Cambridge Hospital
- East Cambridge Care Center
- Malden Care Center
CHA is also offering "pop-up" vaccination clinics - information on hours and locations here: https://www.challiance.org/patients-visitors/covid-19-vaccine.
Walk-In Vaccinations Available at CVS
Massachusetts residents age 12 and over can now get walk-in appointments at the 389 vaccine-carrying CVS locations across the Commonwealth.
Cambridge Vaccination Data
The City of Cambridge has added Cambridge Vaccination Data to its COVID-19 Data Center. Data will be updated weekly on Thursdays. Information as of Thursday, December 9, 2021:
Residents who have received at least 1 dose: 94,319
Fully Vaccinated Residents: 81,053
Daily COVID-19 Vaccination Report
The Department of Public Health publishes a Daily COVID-19 Vaccine Report in addition to its Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Report. Information as of Friday, December 10, 2021:
Total doses administered: 11,882,288
Total cumulative doses shipped to MA: 13,832,980
Vaccination Appointment Resources
Resources for Booking and Getting to Your Appointment
- Online: Visit vaxfinder.mass.gov/. You can also book directly with a pharmacy at cvs.com or walgreens.com.
- Phone: Call 2-1-1 between 8:30 AM-8:00 PM Monday-Thursday or 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Friday-Sunday and select the prompt for “help scheduling a vaccine appointment.”
- In-Home Vaccinations: Anyone who is unable to get to a vaccine location can call the Homebound Vaccination Central Intake Line at 833-983-0485 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday-Friday. Boosters are also available.
Booster Shots Available for Fully Vaccinated Adults
COVID-19 boosters are available for all fully vaccinated MA residents aged 16 years and older. Learn more at mass.gov/COVID19booster.
FAQs
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has a Frequently Asked Questions site that is continually updated as they receive new questions. You may access the FAQs here. Questions can be submitted to COVID-19-Vaccine-Plan-MA@mass.gov.
Today’s Case Count
Total Cases: 901,430
New Cases: 5,007
Total Deaths: 19,217
New Tests: 104,625
Total Cases: 8,895
New Cases: 61
Total Deaths: 126
The state has created an interactive dashboard, including the percentage of COVID-19 positive cases and testing rates by city and town. The dashboard can be viewed here.
For Harvard University COVID-19 information, click here. For MIT COVID-19 information, click here.
Legislative Updates
Bills I have filed that are being heard next week
Two of my bills have been scheduled for legislative hearings next week: An Act relative to expungement of juvenile and young adult records and An Act to increase family stabilization through the earned income tax credit. The hearing schedule is available at malegislature.gov, where hearings will be livestreamed and available for viewing after they conclude.
Mental Health Services and Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling, please know that you are not alone. There are some great resources here: decker4rep.com/2021/mental-health-services-and-resources/.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline For MA residents
Thanks to COVID-19 relief funds from the CARES ACT, Massachusetts now has a Helpline that people can call for help rather than harming their partner. Open to any resident, the helpline is the first in the nation of its kind. This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their intimate partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
Where to Give
If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19: decker4rep.com/2021/places-that-are-working-to-help-those-most-affected-by-covid-19/.
I also encourage you to donate to the following organizations that are engaging in racial justice work: decker4rep.com/2021/organizations-that-are-engaging-in-racial-justice-work/.
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie