“The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older. This is the first coronavirus vaccine approved by the FDA, and is expected to open the door to more vaccine mandates.”
We are expanding our patient experience surveys. Your feedback matters! If you have a telehealth appointment, you will receive a link to the new and improved survey by text after your appointment. Starting June 1, we will be launching a survey for in-person visits as well. Please share your thoughts so we can continue to improve your care.
While masks will still need to be worn in healthcare facilities, like Lowell CHC, most other COVID restrictions will be lifted at the end of the month.
“Never mind Aug. 1. The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend — May 29 — is the new target date for the end of nearly all remaining COVID-19 restrictions in Massachusetts.”
Free COVID-19 testing returns to Lowell May 12 through the state’s “Stop the Spread” program. Testing will be offered in the parking lot of Cawley Memorial Stadium, 424 Douglas Road, available seven days a week:
Monday 8am-2pm, Tuesday 12pm-6pm, Wednesday 8am-2pm, Thursday 12pm-6pm, Friday 8am-2pm, Saturday 10am-2pm, Sunday 10am-2pm. All Massachusetts residents, including those who are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, are eligible to be tested. Walk-ups will also be accepted.
Beginning May 12, residents may begin applying for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program, which provides a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Beginning on Wednesday, May 12, walk-in appointments are available for the COVID-19 vaccine for Lowell CHC patients. Patients can walk in to the health center at 161 Jackson Street in Lowell from 8:00am-1:30pm, Monday through Friday, to receive a vaccine. Patients who have a scheduled appointment will remain on the schedule for that day and time.
The National Association of Community Health Centers has recognized Lowell Community Health Center for leveraging new technology to increase equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations among the health center’s multilingual patient community. Lowell CHC recently launched a new vaccine registration system using intelligent automated technology, with a focus on assuring language access.
Lowell Community Health Center is offering an easier online system for booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments. When an appointment is available, patients will receive a secure text with a link to register for the vaccine appointment, then follow the link to complete the registration process. Following the link is the quickest way to book an appointment, but patients may still call 978-547-1686 if they are having difficulty with the online registration.
In accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Lowell Community Health Center is pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. We are administering the Moderna vaccine, which is not affected by the recent safety review, so if you are scheduled for a vaccine at Lowell CHC, it is important that you keep your appointment. We are not canceling appointments. You can help #stopthespread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.
The FDA has reported that, as of 4/12/21, 6.8 million+ doses (181,034 in Massachusetts) of the J&J vaccine have been administered. The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals receiving the vaccine. Per the CDC and FDA: People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.
Lowell Community Health Center is offering an easier online system for booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments. When patients are eligible for the vaccine and an appointment is available, they will receive a secure text with a link to register for the vaccine. Patients may still call 978-547-1686 to book an appointment, if they prefer not to use the online system.
