VACCINE UPDATES

• Somervillians are getting vaccinated: 40% of the city’s residents (32,482 people) are fully vaccinated. Another 22% (17,673 residents) have been partially vaccinated. We hope to keep the momentum going. The CDC has even put together helpful tips on how to talk to people who are hesitant to get the vaccine.

• Walk-in vaccinations available at multiple locations: You now can get a COVID-19 vaccination without having to pre-register or make an appointment. There are walk-in vaccination sites all around Somerville, and just outside it as well. All of the state’s mass vaccination sites (except Gillette Stadium) are accepting walk-ins as well, including at the Hynes Convention Center and Reggie Lewis Center in Boston and Doubletree Hotel in Danvers. You can still make an appointment by visiting vaxfinder.mass.gov. Here is a list of local walk-in sites:
  • CHA Somerville Vaccine Center at 176 Somerville Avenue in Somerville, Mon.- Fri. 8:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m.
  • Tufts University Gantcher Center at 161 College Ave. in Medford, Wed-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Encore Boston Harbor at 1 Broadway Center in Everett, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Stop & Shop at 779 McGrath Hwy. in Somerville, Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • CVS Target at 180 Somerville Ave. in Somerville, Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Subject to vaccine availability.)
  • CVS Davis Square at 1 Davis Square in Somerville, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Subject to vaccine availability.)
  • CVS Magoun Square at 532 Medford St. in Somerville, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Subject to vaccine availability.)

• Walgreens offering vaccines with minimal pre-registration: Walgreens Pharmacies also continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines. You may either schedule an appointment through the Walgreens scheduling app or use vaxfinder.mass.gov. You also may walk into your local Walgreens to see if they have available appointments and then schedule an immediate appointment via your mobile device while you are at that location.

• Parental/guardian consent required for people younger than 18: Individuals younger than 18 will need parental or guardian consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A parent or guardian can either accompany a minor to their vaccine appointment, or fill out a consent form that the minor can then bring with them to the appointment. Consent forms in multiple languages are available at the State’s website. Currently, only individuals 16 years or older can receive the vaccine, although the Massachusetts Department of Public Health encourages individuals 12-15 years old to pre-register to receive the Pfizer vaccine soon.

• Already pre-registered? Check your spam folder: If you’ve pre-registered for a vaccine appointment with an email address and aren’t getting weekly updates, check your spam folder. If you find messages going there, you can look up how to add the sender to the safe sender list in your email client, or know to frequently check your spam folder.

• Make sure to get your second dose: Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to provide maximum protection against the COVID-19 virus. The Pfizer vaccine requires a three-week interval between shots while the Moderna vaccine requires a four-week interval. It is quite common for vaccines to require more than one dose to convey maximum effectiveness. Not everyone gets the same level of immunity from their first dose and the second dose conveys a significantly increased degree of protection. Learn more.

GENERAL COVID UPDATES

• Somerville COVID-19 Case Counts: As of May 11, a total of 5,705 Somerville residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020, and sadly there have been 86 deaths. See the latest Somerville case data at somervillema.gov/covid19dashboard.

• Outdoor face coverings no longer required: While indoor spaces and outdoor gatherings/fitness classes still require the use of face coverings, if you are outdoors and able to practice social distancing you no longer have to don a mask. These same regulations have gone into effect in most of Massachusetts. However, because Somerville is a densely populated city, some public spaces like the Community Path and parks and playgrounds can get crowded, so residents are advised to bring a face covering whenever they go out.

• Additional activities allowed starting Tuesday, June 1: The next round of reopenings will feature dance floors at private events, food and drink at recreational activities (e.g., at the movies), distanced singing/woodwind/brass instrument performances, road races, and various types of adult and youth sporting tournaments.

• Remember to keep gatherings to under ten people indoors: The private gathering limit in Somerville remains at a maximum of ten persons indoors. Outdoor gathering limits at private events have been increased to 25. Please stay vigilant as we seek to beat the virus.

• Emergency Broadband Benefits: The FCC is offering up to $50 a month to help people get Internet connectivity. Another $100 toward the purchase of a computer or tablet is also available. These funds may remain in place for six months after the federal government has declared an end to the COVID-19 state of emergency. Check your eligibility and apply at getemergencybroadband.org. Interested parties also may apply through their broadband supplier (e.g., Comcast or RCN).

• Income tax filing deadline on Monday, May 17: The federal and state income tax filing deadline for 2020 is coming up in less than a week. The date was moved to give people more time to file, so don’t forget to get your taxes sent on time to avoid any potential late filing fees.

• Free COVID-19 testing: CHA Somerville Hospital offers free testing at Assembly Row. To make an appointment, call 617-665-2928 (Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The mobile COVID-19 testing unit offers testing for all in our neighborhoods. To make a mobile appointment, call 617-682-0583. Mobile testing schedules, as they become available, and more testing information can be found at somervillema.gov/covidtesting. The State’s Stop the Spread testing sites are also an option, including in the nearby communities of Chelsea and Everett. For more information, visit the State’s website.