Frequently Asked Questions About Coronavirus Vaccine For City Of Cambridge Residents

Press release from the City of Cambridge:

December 23, 2020

Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts and Cambridge began on December 14, with hospitals receiving an initial delivery of first doses to be administered to health care workers as first priority, followed by residents and staff of long term care facilities, first responders, and congregate care settings. Both the Pfizer/BioNTECH and Moderna vaccines are being distributed and administered.

The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) will play a significant role in vaccinating first responders during Phase I and the general public during Phase III in Spring 2021. The Commonwealth is overseeing the administration and distribution of the vaccine, so guidance to local health departments and local boards of health is subject to change.

The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Public Health Department recognize that there are many questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, including safety of the vaccines; trust in government and pharmaceutical companies who developed the vaccines; potential side effects; who should and should not receive the vaccine; and where vaccines will be administered.

CPHD and the City will continue to update residents and those who work in Cambridge as more information becomes available.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the vaccine which can be found as follows:

• MDPH COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
• CDC COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine:

• Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information

This press release was produced by the City of Cambridge. The views expressed here are the author’s own.