Last updated: 2/19/21

PLEASE NOTE:
Vaccine information, including the city's clinic process, 
is subject to change. 

Information about the COVID-19 Vaccination in Framingham

Who is 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, and low-income and affordable senior housing residents and staff.

It's important to recognize that although the Commonwealth has moved into the next group in Phase 2, almost 1 million individuals are newly eligible for the vaccine. 

In addition, not every person in Phase 1 and the first group of Phase 2 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. Recently, Massachusetts has been receiving approximately 110,000 first doses per week from the federal government. Residents are encouraged to keep checking the website as appointments are added on a rolling basis.

Phase Two includes a large group of people and is scheduled February-April. Not everyone will be able to be vaccinated immediately while supplies remain limited.

City of Framingham covid-19 vaccine clinic - by appointment only

The City of Framingham plans to hold a series of Saturday clinics for the 75+ community at Keefe Technical High School (750 Winter St, Framingham, MA 01702) based on the available doses of vaccine received from the State. The clinic location is wheelchair accessible.

City postpones Saturday, February 20, vaccination clinic due to vaccine delay: Because of this week's winter storms, Framingham is not assured it will receive its shipment of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine in time to prepare it for a clinic on Saturday, February 20, and therefore will postpone Saturday's clinic. The City will announce when registration opens for the next clinic once it confirms receipt of the vaccine and can safely prepare it for use. 

Next Upcoming vaccine Clinic information:

The City's vaccine clinic process is as follows:

• Every Monday, the Health Department requests a vaccine allotment from the State (300 doses is the maximum the City can request for now). The City may not receive as many vaccines as requested, and the numbers can change week by week. The number of vaccine doses received determines how many appointments can be offered.
• Weekly, the City, will learn how many vaccine doses it will receive based on shipment confirmation    
• The City will provide advanced notification of vaccine clinic information BEFORE registration opens on the State's vaccine portal

please be aware:

• YOU MUST MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO ATTEND THE CLINIC. 
  The Health Department will cancel an appointment if the registrant is not a Framingham resident who is 75 or over and cannot accept the Moderna vaccine.
• No waiting list will be available for this clinic. Please check the State's website frequently, as canceled appointments will show up as an open slot. 
• The City is receiving the Moderna vaccine. Reference information about the Moderna vaccine here.
• Vaccination is free, and health insurance is not required. The City is asking for all residents with health insurance to please bring that information with you. You will never be asked for a credit card number to make an appointment!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SECURED AN APPOINTMENT:

• If you are feeling ill, experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, sudden loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain), or are waiting for COVID-19 test results, please DO NOT attend the clinic.
• Bring a government-issued form of identification and health insurance information (if you have health insurance).
• Arrive outside the entrance to the clinic no more than 10 minutes before your appointment. This is VERY IMPORTANT - it's winter and we want to ensure residents are NOT standing out in the cold and are practicing social distancing. If you have an appointment, are a Framingham resident, and are 75 years or older, you will be vaccinated.  
• Wear a mask and practice social distancing at all times.
• PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE BUILDING BEFORE THE TIME OF YOUR APPOINTMENT. We will not be able to admit patients early. Please follow the signage for entry.
• Wear clothing that allows ease of access to the upper arm.  
• Expect to be at the vaccination site for about 30 minutes— from the time you check-in until your post-shot observation period ends. This includes a mandatory 15-30-minute wait after you have been vaccinated.
• If a caregiver or companion accompanies you, he or she will not be eligible for a vaccination at the Framingham Clinic. 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.
   

*Vaccination is free whether you have insurance or not. If you do have insurance, please bring that information with you.

I am an older adult, over the age of 75, that is 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 ages 75 and older 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 ages 75 and older 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 at one of the Framingham health department's upcoming vaccine clinics? 
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.

WILL I BE ABLE TO accompany and support my friend/family member on the day of their appointment at one of the Framingham health department's clinics?  
Yes. One person will be allowed to accompany a person to a confirmed vaccine appointment at Keefe Technical High School.

I am getting my first COVID-19 vaccination at Keefe Tech.  Will I be receiving any written proof that I have had the first shot? 

Yes, you will receive a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with the following information:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Date of your First Dose
• Clinic Site
• Vaccine Manufacturer
• Vaccine Lot Number
• Date of your 2nd Dose

oNCE I RECEIVE MY FIRST VACCINE DOSE FROM THE CITY'S VACCINE CLINIC, WILL I HAVE TO SCHEDULE MY SECOND DOSE AT THE SAME SITE? 

Residents who attend a clinic offered by the City of Framingham Health Department will receive email instructions about registering for dose 2. The information will be sent to the email address that was entered for your dose 1 appointment, and the registration process is the same.

I AM INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT ONE OF FRAMINGHAM'S UPCOMING COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS. 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.

Are there other locations to get the covid-19 vaCCINE? 

Yes. In addition to the City's clinics, 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.

The City has created a guide to help people navigate the State's vaccine registration platform. View the guide in English (PDF), Portuguese (PDF), and Spanish (PDF). Please Note: Not all sites are using the State's platform for registration. Each site has a specific registration website link located on the map. 

• 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)

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. 

How can I receive more information about COVID-19 in Framingham, including the vaccination?

• Information on COVID-19 in Framingham can be foundhere. 
• To receive information from the City on a mobile device, text "Join FraminghamMA" to 30890. 
• Residents also can find updates onFacebookand Twitter - @Framingham_MA. 
• For questions regarding COVID-19 in Framingham, please call the City's informational line at (508) 532-5411, Mon-Fri., 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. 
• If there is an urgent update, the City will employ the "Alert Framingham" phone messaging system, otherwise known as Rave. To sign up for the City's Rave system, please go here:https://www.smart911.com/

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