page LAST UPDATED: 5/3/21

City of Framingham
Vaccine overview

information as of: April 28, 2021

The City of Framingham is one of twenty communities designated by the State as an “equity city” for vaccine distribution. The City will receive assistance from State distributing the vaccine to those disproportionately affected by the virus.

CITY OF FRAMINGHAM equity initiative Update

As of May 3, 2021:

*As of Monday, April 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted the recommended pause on the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.

What does this mean for Framingham?

Framingham is eligible to order vaccine weekly to vaccinate those in Phases I and II eligible populations in communities that have been historically under-resourced and may have barriers seeking or receiving the vaccine, such as:

• Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Latinx residents
• Residents who do not speak English, or who prefer to speak in another language
• Residents who do not have access to public transportation or who have barriers getting to a vaccination site
• Residents with disabilities and others who have access and functional needs

Does this mean the Health Department will no longer offer vaccine clinics for Framingham residents outside of the equity program?

Yes. At this time, the City is working with community-based organizations to vaccinate very specific populations through the equity initiative clinic model. This is an effort to provide a more equitable vaccination rollout to our community that has been disproportionately affected by the virus.

I am a homebound/functionally disabled Framingham resident eligible to receive a vaccine but I am unable to get to a vaccine clinic. can I sign up for a home visit?

Please call the City's Public Health Nursing Office at 508-532-5667. Leave your name, phone number, and address, and someone will return your call within 24 hours. 

WHO IS currently ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

The City of Framingham is following the vaccine distribution timeline created by the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The City does NOT have the ability to vaccinate individuals/groups outside of the state-approved distribution plan. 

Currently, all Phase 1 priority groups are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination Phase 2 started in February. Eligible groups in Phase 2 are people ages 75 and older, ages 65-74, with 2+ certain medical conditions, low-income and affordable senior housing residents, and staff, educators, childcare workers, and school staff, workers in certain categories, people ages 55 and older, people with one certain medical condition, and people age 16 and older.

It's important to recognize that although the Commonwealth has moved into the next group, not every person in previous phases has been fully vaccinated, and vaccination is STILL ONGOING.

Due to extremely high demand for appointments and limited vaccine supply, it could take more than a month for all eligible individuals to secure an available appointment unless federal supply significantly increases. Residents are encouraged to keep checking the State's website as appointments are added on a rolling basis.

I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE, AND I NEED ASSISTANCE SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT. WHO CAN I CALL FOR HELP?

Call the Massachusetts vaccine scheduling resource line at 2-1-1. The Resource Line will assist with scheduling Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in English and Spanish. Translators will be available to support residents in approximately 100 additional languages. Individuals eligible for a vaccine will be able to speak to a representative live on the phone to assist them with an appointment through the State's online system. These representatives have the same access to appointments as on the public website; it will not give individuals preference to appointments. If no appointments are available, callers will have the option to be placed on a call back list for the mass vaccination sites. The caller will receive a call back when an appointment becomes available at a mass vaccination site, and the list will be called on a first-come, first-served basis. The Scheduling Resource Line is currently only for individuals eligible for a vaccine who cannot use or have difficulty accessing the internet and cannot schedule an appointment through the online platform. The call takers can only support individuals with scheduling an appointment, and representatives cannot answer general questions about COVID-19 or provide individual health care advice. Please note, due to the high demand for appointments and limited vaccine supply, it may take weeks to secure an available appointment in a preferred location.

I AM A CAREGIVER/COMPANION FOR A PERSON THAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE APPOINTMENT. WILL I BE ABLE TO GET A VACCINE WHEN I ACCOMPANY AN INDIVIDUAL AGE 75 OR OLDER? 
No. At this time, only mass vaccination sites have the capacity to accommodate companion appointments. Mass vaccination sites are large venues that offer a high number of vaccine appointments. Look for these sites with a red star on the State's map (located below). View more information about Massachusetts Caregiver/Companion COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility here.

I AM INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT a Future FRAMINGHAM COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC. DO YOU NEED VOLUNTEERS?

To volunteer, please apply for the Framingham Medical Reserves Corps. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers committed to improving their communities' health, safety, and resiliency. Volunteers include individuals with medical and nonmedical backgrounds. Volunteer process information for Framingham's Medical Reserve Corps is available here.

Where Can I get a  COVID-19 VACCINE? 

Numerous vaccine sites are located throughout the Commonwealth by appointment only. Below is a map that lists vaccination sites by their geographical location. Additional information, including eligibility, how to make an appointment, hours and days of operation, and more, is accessible on the map below or available here.

If you have booked a vaccine appointment at another site, learn how to be prepared.

• Red star: Mass Vaccination Sites (high volume, large venue sites)
• Green star: General Vaccination Sites (healthcare locations)
• Blue star: General Vaccination Sites (pharmacy/grocery locations)
• Yellow star: Local Vaccination Sites (open to select cities/towns)

How can I pre-register for a covid-19 vaccine? Is every vaccine site accepting pre-registrations? 

Massachusetts residents can pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccination only at mass vaccination sites. Follow this link to pre-register. Once you are pre-registered, each week, you will receive a weekly status update to confirm you are still on a waiting list, and you will have the opportunity to opt-out if you have a scheduled appointment elsewhere. 

I AM HAVING TROUBLE TRYING TO FIND AN APPOINTMENT FOR A VACCINE, IS THERE AN EASIER WAY TO SEE APPOINTMENT AVAILABILITY?
Yes. Please visit the State's COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, showing vaccine sites and current availability (in real time) all on one page. You will need to follow clinic-specific registration instructions depending on which site you choose. 

AM I REQUIRED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

Yes. ALL VACCINE SITES ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. The City has been informed that COVID-19 vaccine supplies are limited at this time, so appointments are difficult to find. As more vaccine becomes available, appointments will increase across the Commonwealth. 

What does it mean to be fully vaccinated?

I AM fully vaccinated. Do I have to follow the covid-19 Travel Advisory?

The Travel Advisory for all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival does not apply to people who are fully vaccinated. However, if you are fully vaccinated, and you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or you were in close contact with a positive case, you should isolate yourself from others and contact your healthcare provider or seek testing. 

Should I be following guidance or protocols once I am fully vaccinated?

Yes. Please reference guidance information from the MDPH for people who are fully vaccinated again COVID-19 here. 

Visit the State's website for answers to frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine here.