COVID-19: A Personal Experience with the Vaccine. Dr. Samantha Jordan, Dental Director, and Dr. Kumble Rajesh, Chief Medical Officer at Lowell Community Health Center, discuss the safety and importance of the COVID-19 vaccine.
SEE BELOW FOR MORE VIDEOS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
COVID-19 Vaccine: Breakthrough Cases and How the Vaccines Interact With Our Bodies. Dr. Catherine Yu, Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Lowell Community Health Center, explains how the COVID-19 vaccines safely interact with our bodies and are our best hope against the pandemic.
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, easy to get, and free.
The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone ages 5 and up, and vaccine boosters for everyone 18+. All individuals age 5 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts are eligible to be vaccinated. Please note that only the Pfizer vaccine is FDA approved for use by individuals under 18 years old. Residents age age 5-17 should seek clinics administering the Pfizer vaccine. Residents age 18 and older can get any vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines may become less effective over time, and booster shots can increase immunity, particularly as new variants like Omicron emerge. Learn more.
Flu Vaccine Alert: Different virus, different vaccine. Different viruses cause the flu (influenza) and COVID-19, so even if you’ve had the COVID vaccine, you still need a flu vaccine. Millions of people get the flu and thousands die from flu-related causes every year. Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting the flu vaccine.
The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19. Learn more.
The vaccine is available and free (you do not need health insurance) to everyone who lives, works or studies in Massachusetts, including undocumented immigrants. You do not need to be a US citizen or have a green card to get the vaccine, and getting the vaccine will not affect your immigration status.
Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine:
Lowell Clinics: Walk-ins or by appointment. Ages 5 and up (Pfizer).
Old Ferry Road, Lowell (former Elks Lodge): Ages 12+
Massachusetts Vaccine Clinic Finder: Where vaccines are available in your community.
Massachusetts Vaccine Signup: Sign up for the vaccine.
MA COVID Vaccination Help: Volunteer organization that helps you book your vaccine appointment.
Lowell Community Health Center: Vaccinating health center patients only, ages 5-11. Walk-ins available.
City of Lowell. Lowell residents only. Walk-ins available.
About the vaccine:
Trust the Facts. Get the Vax: Vaccine safety, how it was developed, and how it works.
Center for Disease Control (CDC): Facts about COVID-19 and the vaccine.
Massachusetts DPH: Facts about COVID-19 and the vaccine.
Wellforce Vaccine resources and tools.
Vaccine Information Flyers
This education program is supported by funds from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
Community providers discuss the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine
Why should I be vaccinated for COVID-19? Dr. Kumble Rajesh, Chief of Pediatrics and the Interim Chief Medical Officer at Lowell Community Health Center, explains why the vaccination is safe, effective, and so important. Question provided by Sochenda Uch.
ហេតុម្តេចបានជាខ្ញុំចាំបាច់ចាក់ថ្នាំបង្ការជំងឺកូវិដ–១៩? មូលហេតុគឺមានច្រើនណាស់! គ្រូពេទ្យរបស់មណ្ឌលសុខភាពក្រុងឡូវែល្ល ប៉ោលេង ហុង ពិភាក្សាអំពីមូលហេតុសំខាន់ដែលតម្រូវឲ្យចាក់ថ្នាំ។ សំណួរគឺសួរដោយលោក ស៊ីដនី លាង
Why should I get vaccinated for COVID-19? So many reasons! Lowell Community Health Center Nurse Practitioner Porleng Hong discusses the importance of getting vaccinated. Question provided by Sidney Liang.
Por qué debería vacunarme contra COVID-19? Tantas razones! El Centro de Salud Comunitario Dr. Luis Velez Velazquez analiza las muchas razones para vacunarse. Pregunta proporcionada por JuanCarlos Rivera.
Why should I get vaccinated for COVID-19? So many reasons! Lowell Community Health Center Dr. Luis Velez Velazquez discusses the many reasons to get vaccinated. Question provided by JuanCarlos Rivera.
Por que deverei ser vacinado contra a COVID-19? Lowell Community Health Center Nurse Practitioner Simone De Oliveira nos fala sobre as varias razoes de sermos vacinados. Pergunta da Maria Cunha.
Why should I get vaccinated for COVID-19? So many reasons! Lowell Community Health Center Nurse Practitioner Simone De Oliveira discusses the many reasons to get vaccinated. Question provided by Maria Cunha.
តើថ្នាំចាក់បង្ការជំងឺកូវិដអាចធ្វើឲ្យខ្ញុំកើតកូវិដ-១៩ ឬឈឺស្កាត់បានទេ? ទេ! គ្រូពេទ្យរបស់មណ្ឌលសុខភាពក្រុងឡូវែល្ល ប៉ោលេង ហុង ពន្យល់ពីមូលហេតុ។ សំណួរគឺសួរដោយលោក ស៊ីដនី លាង
Can the vaccine give me COVID-19 or make me sick? No! Lowell Community Health Center Nurse Practitioner Porleng Hong explains why. Question provided by Sidney Liang.
Puede la vacuna darme COVID-19 o enfermarme? NO! El Dr. Luis Velez Velazquez del Lowell Community Health Center explica por qué. Pregunta proporcionada por JuanCarlos Rivera.
Can the vaccine give me COVID-19 or make me sick? NO! Lowell Community Health Center Dr. Luis Velez Velazquez explains why. Question provided by JuanCarlos Rivera.
A vacina contra covid-19 podera me deixar enfermo/doente? Nao! Lowell Community Health Center Nurse Practitioner Simone De Oliveira explica o por que. Pergunta da Maria Cunha.
Can the vaccine give me COVID-19 or make me sick? NO! Lowell Community Health Center Nurse Practitioner Simone De Oliveira explains why. Question provided by Maria Cunha.
Can the COVID-19 vaccine give me COVID or make me sick? No, it can’t. Dr. Kumble Rajesh, Chief of Pediatrics and the Interim Chief Medical Officer at Lowell Community Health Center, explains.
Dr. Hannah Tello, a psychologist and Community Data Manager with Greater Lowell Health Alliance, was interviewed on WBZ about the importance of youth — and all residents – getting the vaccine when you are eligible.
¿Son seguras las vacunas COVID-19? ¡Sí! La enfermera practicante del Lowell Community Health Center, Evelyne Delori, explica por qué las vacunas COVID-19 son seguras y recomendadas. Pregunta proporcionada por Dolores Sierra.
Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe? Yes! Lowell Community Health Center Nurse Practitioner Evelyne Delori explains why the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and recommended. Question provided by Dolores Sierra.
COVID-19 Side Effects: What You Need to Know. Jeanmerli Gonzalez, Community Health Worker at Lowell Community Health Center, explains how the vaccine side effects are mild and easy to manage compared to having COVID-19.
SEE BELOW FOR MORE VIDEOS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
Lowell General Hospital Providers Discuss the Top 3 Things to Know About Pregnancy, Pediatrics, and the COVID-19 Vaccine
Adam Weston, MD, Infectious Disease physician at Lowell General Hospital, discusses the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant woman, along with the risks of contracting the COVID-19 virus while pregnant.
Stephanie Valcourt-Dexter, CCRC, Clinical Research Coordinator at the Cancer Center at Lowell General Hospital, shares why she decided to get the COVID-19 vaccination while pregnant, as well as her experience with clinical trials and trusting the science behind vaccine development.
Jennifer Murzycki, MD, PhD, Section Chief of the Pediatric Hospitalist Program at Lowell General Hospital discusses the role COVID-19 vaccination has in keeping moms healthy, the latest research showing the benefits of mom’s vaccination in newborns, and the risks that the COVID-19 virus presents to babies.
#ThisIsMyWhy: Community members share why they are getting the vaccine
Jim Wilde, Executive Director, Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership
Amy Pessia, Executive Director, Merrimack Valley Food Bank
Luz Vasudevan nos comparte los motivos por los cuales recibió la vacuna contra el COVID-19.
Luz Vasudevan shares her reasons for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
តើអ្នកនៅមិនហ៊ានចាក់ថ្នាំបង្ការជំងឺកូវិដ-១៩ ឬ? សូមស្តាប់អ្នកមីង តេង ប្រាថ្នា!
Are you still hesitating about CoviD-19 vaccines? Please listen to Ms. Prathana Teng!
Michael Horgan, Optical Manager at Lowell Community Health Center, shares his reason for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
ព្រះគុណលោកម្ចាស់តា វិជ្ជាសម្បន្នោ ឈូម សំបូចាក់ថ្នាំការពារកូវិដ-១៩មុនគេបង្អស់នៅវត្តពន្លឺពុទ្ធចក្ក។ សូមស្តាប់ពុទ្ធដិការបស់ព្រះអង្គ!
Our Head Monk, Lok Ta Vichea Sambano: Chhoum Bo, at Glory Buddhist Temple was the first of this temple to get vaccinated. A true leader!
Mercy Anampiu, Health Promotion & Education Manager at Lowell Community Health Center, shares why she got the COVID-19 vaccine and is encouraging others to do the same.
Kwanini nilipata chanjo yangu ya COVID-19: Mercy Anampiu.
Why I got the COVID-19 vaccine: Mercy Anampiu.
Maria Claudio nos comparte los motivos por los cuales recibió la vacuna contra el COVID-19.
Maria Claudio shares her reasons for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Vaccines are our best tool to protect us from COVID-19. Here are the facts you need to know.
The vaccines are safe and effective.
The vaccines approved for use in the US are all safe and effective. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized four vaccines – from Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax – for emergency use. Doctors and independent experts confirmed they meet high safety standards. All individuals age 5 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts are eligible to be vaccinated. Residents aged 6 months and older can get their primary vaccine series (first two shots of Moderna or Pfizer). Children age 5 and older who receive the Pfizer vaccine should get a booster at least 5 months after their second shot. Only residents ages 12 and older are able to get the bivalent vaccine (omnicron specific) at this time.
Vaccines are free.
The federal government will cover the cost of your vaccine. Providers may charge you a fee to give the vaccine, but health insurance will likely cover it.
You CANNOT catch COVID-19 from the vaccine.
There is no live virus in the vaccine, so you cannot catch COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.
You may feel side effects.
Like other routine vaccines, you may get a sore arm, fever, headaches, or tired after getting vaccinated. These are signs that the vaccine is working.
Some people should not get the vaccine.
You can get the vaccine even if you have had COVID (usually around 30 days, but advise with your primary care doctor to see if you can get a vaccine sooner). You should tell your vaccine provider if you have a fever, have a history of severe allergic reactions, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, have immunity problems, or are pregnant.
Stay safe after the vaccine.
After you get the vaccine, wear your mask, stay six feet apart, and keep gatherings small for those who have not been vaccinated.
*Source: CDC
Frequently Asked Questions
Know What is True and False About the Vaccine
False: It was rushed and is not safe.
True: Researchers took no safety shortcuts with the vaccine. Large studies show the vaccine is safe.
False: It changes your DNA.
True: It is impossible for the vaccine to change your DNA.
False: It can give you COVID-19.
True: The vaccine does not contain a live virus strain. It cannot give you COVID-19.
False: It contains egg protein or shellfish.
True: The vaccine does not contain egg protein or shellfish and can be given to people with egg and shellfish allergies.
False: It causes severe side effects.
True: For most, the vaccine causes mild side effects that resolve in a few days.
False: It makes women infertile.
True: There is no evidence that the vaccine causes infertility.
False: It contains a microchip or tracking device.
True: There is no microchip or tracking device in the vaccine.
*Source: CDC
Talking Points on the COVID-19 Vaccine
These may be helpful in talking with clients, staff, patients, and others who may have questions or concerns about the vaccine.
All vaccines are safe and effective. The four available vaccines—from Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson—are safe and effective.
The vaccines are free. The federal government covers the cost of the vaccine.
You may feel side effects. Like other routine vaccines, you may get a sore arm, fever, headaches, or tired after getting vaccinated. These are signs that the vaccine is working.
You CANNOT catch COVID-19 from the vaccine. It is not possible because it does not contain a live virus.
Some people should not get the vaccine.
Children under 6 months of age cannot receive a vaccine at this time. You should tell your doctor or vaccine provider if you have a fever, have a history of severe allergic reactions, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, have immunity problems, or are pregnant. You can get the vaccine even if you have had COVID.
The vaccine DOES NOT change your DNA, contain egg protein or shellfish, make women infertile, or contain a microchip or tracking device. These are false stories being spread to scare people.
You still need to stay safe after the vaccine.
It is important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic After you get the vaccine, you still need to wear your mask, stay six feet apart, wash your hands, and keep gatherings small for those who have not been vaccinated.