Dear Student,
The university will hold free on-campus clinics to provide Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to members of the Tufts community who are currently eligible based on CDC guidance (see below) and are not able to get the booster at their local pharmacy or elsewhere. These clinics are only for individuals who received the Pfizer vaccine.
The next clinic will be held on Wednesday, October 6 at 51 Winthrop Street in Medford. You must pre-register with this link. At the end of the registration, please use the link provided to complete the consent form in advance of your appointment.
Please be sure to bring your CDC vaccination card, Tufts ID, and insurance card when you arrive.
After you have received your booster shot, you must upload your updated vaccine documentation:
The CDC recommends that the following groups should receive a booster shot at least six months from the time of their second dose:
- people aged 65 years and older;
- residents aged 18 years and older in long-term care settings; and
- people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions.
The CDC also recommends that the following group may receive a booster shot at least six months from the time of their second dose, based on their individual benefits and risks:
- people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions; and
- people aged 18–64 years at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their occupational or institutional setting (e.g., health care workers, patient-facing medical/dental students).
If you have questions, please talk with your doctor about whether getting a Pfizer booster shot is appropriate for you.
Why are booster shots important? While COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, the CDC has said that the protection provided by vaccines could wane over time, especially amongst those at higher risk. For that reason, booster shots are needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.
We recognize that some members of the community have underlying conditions and are eager to receive a booster shot, but they received the Moderna vaccine, not Pfizer, and are therefore not eligible to receive the booster shot we are offering. We will notify you of our on-campus clinics offering the Moderna booster shot when it is available. We also acknowledge that many members of the community are not yet eligible for a booster shot as less than six months have elapsed since their second dose. We plan to host additional clinics later this fall and in early 2022.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Jordan, M.D., M.P.H.
University Infection Control Health Director
