Boston COVID-19 Vax Clinic Aimed At Students Offers $75 Gift Cards

BOSTON, MA — A COVID-19 vaccine clinic planned this weekend in Boston will offer protection against new omicron variants, and some other nice benefits, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.

The Saturday B Healthy Back-to-School event at White Stadium in Franklin Park will offer COVID-19 vaccines as coronavirus appears to be on the rise in Boston — and with a relatively low citywide vaccine rate for people under age 12. COVID-19 cases typically increase in the colder months — and with students back gathered in classrooms.

According to the health commission, COVID-19 levels in city wastewater have grown by about 75 percent over the past two weeks. Boston's overall vaccine rate is at about 75 percent, but is only about 50 percent for people age 5 to 11 and 5 percent for residents under age 5.

Saturday's clinic will offer the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, plus bivalent boosters that have been updated to fight new omicron variants. The event will also feature medical advice for parents. COVID-19 vaccines are available for any child over age 6 months.

"We understand that parents may still have reservations about getting their children vaccinated, so this event offers them the opportunity to ask questions and get information from trusted health care professionals," Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Bisola Ojikutu said in a news release.

That's not all. Any kid who get vaccinated on Saturday will get a $75 gift card. There will also be free food and music, and the health commission will be giving out backpacks to students.

Saturday's event at White Stadium, 450 Walnut Ave., runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.