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COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Below is the most current information from the CDC about the COVID-19 vaccine as well as answers to common questions we have received. Please visit our website and the University Coronavirus website regularly as information and availability of the vaccine are rapidly changing.

UPDATES

Updated on June 23, 2022: 

Vaccine Requirement

As previously announced, Harvard will require COVID vaccination for all students who will be on campus. As we work to reach the high levels of vaccination needed to protect our community, Harvard has now extended that vaccination requirement to all Harvard community members, including faculty, staff, and researchers. Read the full message (5/28/21) on the updated vaccine requirement and find more information in the COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Frequently Asked Questions.

Booster Requirement

For the spring semester, Harvard will require COVID-19 boosters for all members of our community who are eligible, including students, faculty, and researchers. Verification of your COVID-19 booster is required by January 31, 2022. In addition:

  • Get your booster as soon as possible once you are eligible so that you can benefit from the added protection.
  • HUHS is currently offering COVID-19 booster clinics. Please log into the Patient Portal to see specific dates and times, and to make an appointment. For appointments in and outside of Massachusetts, see additional scheduling options.
    • You should get a booster if it has been at least five months since your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or at least two months since your first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 
    • Individuals who received their primary vaccine series outside the United States should seek a booster with any WHO-approved vaccine that is available to them. Mixing of brands is acceptable.
  • If you have already received a booster, you may submit your information to HUHS through the patient portal (see instructions).
  • If you already have an approved exemption for the vaccine, you do not need to submit additional information for a booster exemption.
  • Each School and Unit has varying start dates for the beginning of their spring semester; if you are unable to get a booster before you return to campus following the winter break, additional opportunities will be available, and you will not be barred from entering campus.

Read the full message regarding the spring semester and vaccine booster verification from 1/4/2022. 

COVID-19 Booster Clinics at HUHS

HUHS has received both Moderna* and Pfizer** vaccines in order to provide boosters to patients and staff. Appointments for both Moderna* and Pfizer** boosters are available and can be scheduled through the HUHS Patient Portal.

*The last Moderna booster clinic will be on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
**Pfizer booster clinics will continue through August 2022.

Location
All Booster Clinics will take place in the Monks/Bock Conference Rooms on the 6th Floor of the Smith Campus Center.

Find all HUHS COVID-19 booster clinic information, including all clinic dates and times, on COVID-19 Booster Clinics at HUHS.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics at HUHS

At this time HUHS is focusing on COVID-19 booster clinics. To receive your vaccine outside of HUHS, please find vaccine location information through Mass.gov https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Update

Effective April 23, 2021, the CDC and FDA recommend the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine resume in the United States, after a short pause in its administration. However, women younger than 50 years old should be made aware of a rare risk of blood clots with low platelets following vaccination and the availability of other COVID-19 vaccines where this risk has not been observed. Read the CDC/FDA statement.

Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Shots for Eligible Patients

All individuals 18+ are now eligible for a COVID-19 booster in Massachusetts.

Read more on booster guidance

What You Need to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine

Adapted from Key Things to Know about the US COVID-19 Vaccination Program found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website

  1. The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top government priority.
  2. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. 
  3. Similar to other vaccines, you may experience some side effects after receiving the injection. This is a normal sign that your body is building protection.
  4. The cost of the vaccine is covered by the government.
  5. COVID-19 vaccines are one of many important tools to help us stop this pandemic. Once you've received your vaccine, continue to follow local, state, and Harvard guidelines if on campus for mask wearing and social distancing

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

Will I be required to get the vaccine?

As previously announced, Harvard will require COVID vaccination for all students who will be on campus. As we work to reach the high levels of vaccination needed to protect our community, we are now extending that vaccination requirement to all Harvard community members, including faculty, staff, and researchers. Read the full message (5/28/21) on the updated vaccine requirement and find more information in the COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Frequently Asked Questions.

Is there a cost to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

There is no cost to you to receive the vaccine, but your insurance company may be billed for the administration of the vaccine, which is covered by your insurance.

What happened with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

The CDC recommended a temporary pause for use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to a report that out of 6.8 million doses administered, there have been six cases of a rare type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thromboses with low platelets reported in six women under 50 years who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  It is important for the FDA and the CDC to be responsive to any reports of adverse side effects and there are many systems in place to find, report, and investigate these concerns. Further analysis of these cases was completed to determine any potential significance as vaccine safety is taken very seriously.  Effective April 23, 2021, the CDC and FDA recommend that use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine resume in the United States. However, women younger than 50 years old should be made aware of a rare risk of blood clots with low platelets following vaccination and the availability of other COVID-19 vaccines where this risk has not been observed. Read the CDC/FDA statement.

I've received the J&J vaccine. should I be concerned?

Out of 6.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine that have been given, six cases of blood clots have been reported. All six cases were women age 18-48 years, and the problem was a very rare blood clot disorder. Symptoms occurred 6-13 days after receiving the vaccine. These six cases represent less than one per million of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses administered. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe for most people and the CDC and FDA have recommended that the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine resume in the United States. However, women younger than 50 years old should be made aware of rare risk of blood clots with low platelets following vaccination and the availability of other COVID-19 vaccines where this risk has not been observed. All vaccines are continually monitored for safety by the CDC and FDA, and they investigate adverse events, even if these events are unrelated to the vaccines themselves.

What symptoms should I look for if I received the J&J vaccine?

If you received your vaccine in the past few days, you could expect flu-like symptoms from the vaccine. If you received the vaccine more than a week ago and now have severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath, you should contact your doctor for further evaluation and testing. HUHS clinicians are aware of this issue and are familiar with the CDC guidance regarding the evaluation and treatment of this specific blood clot. 

I received my vaccine at HUHS. Should I be concerned about J&J?

To date, HUHS has not used the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Out of over 180 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines given in the US, there have been no reports of this rare blood clot disorder.

I'm on birth control & received the J&J vaccine. Should I worry?

There is no evidence that oral contraceptives played a role in causing blood clots in the six women identified as having serious side effects from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

What is the guidance on COVID-19 booster shots?

The CDC recommends a booster shot for certain people who meet specific criteria. Read more on booster guidance.

Are the COVID vaccines safe, and should I still get one?

There are three COVID vaccines approved for use in the United States: Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. There has been robust reporting on vaccine side-effects, and the CDC is strongly recommending that all Americans receive the vaccine. Large trials have shown that the vaccines prevent serious illness, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19. Out of over 180 million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine given in the US, there have been no reports of blood clots after the administration of these vaccines. 

What should I expect after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. As with most vaccines, the common side effects are pain and swelling on the arm where you got the shot. You may also have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. These side effects usually go away in a few days.

The vaccine is given in two doses, either 3 or 4 weeks apart, depending upon the vaccine we receive. It is expected that you will receive both doses, Further information can be found on the CDC website about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine and on this CDC handout.

What if my second COVID-19 vaccine is not given 3 or 4 weeks apart?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their recommendations on the timing of COVID-19 vaccine doses on February 10, 2021. They note that the second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, since this is not always feasible and delays are inevitable, they report that the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. If the second dose is administered beyond these intervals, there is still no need to restart the series. You have some protection against COVID-19 after the first vaccine.

Can my companion/caregiver also be vaccinated?

If you are currently eligible and would like to have your caregiver who is escorting you to also be vaccinated, we recommend you visit https://www.maimmunizations.org/ to arrange for an appointment at a state-run vaccination clinic. Only the state-run clinics have the authority to vaccinate companions who are not in the eligible population.

Can I stop COVID-19 testing once I've been vaccinated?

Find up-to-date information on testing frequency on the coronavirus site.

How do vaccines work?

While there are many different types of vaccines, most vaccines work by imitating an infection. This helps the body understand how it would fight off the virus if you were ever exposed. When you receive a vaccination, your body will produce different types of cells and antibodies that fight off the imitation. They will leave behind what is sometimes referred to as “memory cells." These cells will remember how to fight off the infection. Oftentimes it can take a few weeks for your body to go through this process, so make sure to get your vaccinations when recommended. Currently, there are three main types of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.

What does the vaccine mean for the COVID-19 pandemic?

It will be important that as many people as possible receive a COVID-19 vaccine. It will be necessary that everyone, even vaccinated people, continue to wear masks properly, socially distance, and limit person-to-person interactions until we are told otherwise by public health professionals. Getting vaccinated will not give people a free pass to socialize, as they may have still been exposed and could potentially pass the virus on to others around them. Please continue to stay vigilant in your preventative behaviors and we can get through this together.

How do I find credible information on vaccines on the internet?

There is a lot of information on the internet about vaccines. It can be hard to untangle sometimes, especially if you’re unsure what to look for. Here are some tips:

Where can I get additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine?

There is extensive information on the CDC website about the vaccine.