New Omicron-specific boosters will be offered at family-friendly event
BOSTON—September 14, 2022—This Saturday, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is hosting ‘B Healthy Back-to-School,’ a free COVID-19 vaccination event taking place at White Stadium from 11am to 3pm. This event is part of BPHC’s efforts to encourage pediatric vaccination, support a safe and healthy school year, and improve equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will be available for all attendees ages 6-months and older during the event. Those who get vaccinated are eligible to receive a $75 gift card, regardless of their age. Free food, music, and games will also be available at the event, and BPHC will be giving away backpacks to students and families for the new school year.
With more residents spending time indoors for school and cooler temperatures approaching, increasing vaccination for COVID-19 and among our infants and children is a proven and effective strategy for supporting the health and safety of Boston’s students and families. Although Boston’s COVID-19 community risk is low according to the CDC, BPHC is closely monitoring Boston’s COVID-19 wastewater levels, which have increased by 76.4% over the past two weeks. The rate is now 650 COVID-19 RNA copies per mL and this increase suggests there may be a corresponding rise in cases and hospitalizations in the coming weeks (data through September 8).
While the city’s overall vaccination rate is high (74.8% of residents are fully vaccinated), uptake among Boston infants and children under 12-years old is low and concerning racial inequities in vaccine uptake persist.
“COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effectively protects children from severe illness, complications, and hospitalization caused by COVID-19,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health a …