News From The School Health Office - 12/10/21

Breaking News:

Everyone Ages 16 and Older Can Get a Booster Shot

For more information, please visit

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

IF YOU RECEIVED
Pfizer-BioNTech

Who can get a booster:

Teens 16-17 years old

Who should get a booster:

Adults 18 years and older

When to get a booster:
At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series

Which booster should you get?

Teens 16–17 years old can get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster

Adults 18 years and older can get  any authorized in the United States: any of the COVID 19 Vaccines

With new cases on the rise in Massachusetts, please consider the vaccination status of household members.

COVID-19 Vaccine is approved by the FDA and CDC for ages 5-11:

For more info please go to https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccinations-for-children-ages-5-11 

Use VaxFinder to search for an appointment to get the vaccine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has produced videos with answers to frequently asked questions – For more info on vaccines for kids please visit https://www.greaterthancovid.org/theconversation-children-and-vaccines/

Pediatrician offices are also carrying the COVID vaccine and hosting their own COVID vaccine clinics- check with your PCP.

Please remember to forward the dates of the vaccinations to me when they are completed

COVID Test Sites:

Doctor's offices, Urgent Care sites, CVS, and Walgreens are starting to get backed up for tests.

Please consider the list of Stop the spread sites below (free tests, appointment not necessary):

1) Lowell

https://www.lowellma.gov/1513/COVID-19-Testing-in-Lowell

Appointments can be reserved online at: 

http://lowellma.gov/covidtesting

2) Marlborough
https://www.ummhealth.org/none/covid-19-dph-testing-site-marlborough-hospital

3) Lawrence
http://www.lawrencegeneral.org/about-us/covid-19-testing
 More Information: 978-946-8409

If your student is sick, please keep them home. If there are multiple symptoms (see below highlighted in yellow), even if only mild, please keep your student home and monitor them.  

Revised COVID-19 Symptoms List  (DESE released on 8/13/21):

Below is the full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff

should monitor themselves. Please note that students will be sent home and asked to quarantine and test for COVID if the following symptoms are present:

COVID-19 symptoms list

• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• New loss of taste or smell

• Muscle aches or body aches

• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)

• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms

• Headache when in combination with other symptoms

• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in

combination with other symptoms

Travel:

Please check with the CDC or http://ma.gov for the latest travel guidelines for domestic and international travel

Travel: For the most recent DOMESTIC travel guidelines, please 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

Travel:For the most recent INTERNATIONAL travel guidelines, please visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html

REMEMBER to self monitor for symptoms and get tested if any develop