MA Holding Scores Of Back-To-School COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

MASSACHUSETTS — From Great Barrington to Nantucket, the state Department of Public Health will hold scores of COVID-19 vaccine clinics across the state over the next few weeks as students prepare to head back to school.

This will be the first school year when COVID-19 vaccines will be available to children under age 6. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer and Moderna versions for kids as young as 6 months in June at the tail end of the 2021-22 school year.

The clinics will also offer booster shots to eligible young people. According to the FDA, the Pfizer booster is available to kids as young as 5, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters are only for people over 18.

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"Children who are fully vaccinated are less likely to get severely sick or spread the virus that causes COVID-19," DPH said. "Being fully vaccinated can also help your kids stay in school, help keep child care programs open, and help prevent a family member needing to miss work to care for them."

Many of the state's clinics will be offering big incentives to get vaccinated. A clinic in Lowell on Saturday, for example, is offering gift cards up to $100 for all first vaccine doses for kids over age 5. Clinics in Malden, Brockton, Everett and Boston will offer similar incentives. In Worcester, vaccine-seekers can get free entry to the EcoTarium zoo and museum (plus $25 gift cards).

To find a full list of upcoming COVID-19 back-to-school vaccine clinics and incentives, visit the state DPH website.