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COVID-19 Vaccine

Find out where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine at Mass General Brigham and in the community.
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Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent illness and reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalization from COVID-19. When you get vaccinated, you also protect people around you, including those who are at higher risk of complications from respiratory illnesses.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) Massachusetts recommends the following for the 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine:

Adults

  • Adults ages 65 and older should receive 2 doses 6 months apart
  • Adults 19 to 64 years with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 or those who have household contacts at higher risk should receive one dose
  • Immunocompromised adults should receive at least one dose
  • Those who are pregnant, contemplating pregnancy, recently pregnant or lactating should receive one dose
  • Healthy adults 19 to 64 years should receive one dose
  • Healthcare personnel should receive one dose, regardless of age or underlying medical conditions

Children

  • All children 6 to 23 months should receive COVID-19 vaccination. Children who are unvaccinated or did not complete an initial vaccination series should complete their initial series. Those who completed an initial series should receive one dose of the 2026–2027 vaccine at least 8 weeks after the last dose
  • Children 2 to 18 years with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 or those who have household contacts at higher risk should receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
  • Healthy children 2 to 18 years who have never been vaccinated should receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
  • Children and adolescents 2 to 18 years of age residing in long-term care facilities should receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
  • Immunocompromised children 6 months and older should receive at least one dose
  • Healthy children 2 to 18 years who do not fall into the categories above may receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccination

This guidance means that everyone 6 months and older can receive the COVID vaccine. For certain people, the recommendation to get the vaccine is stronger based on age and risk factors.

We encourage patients to contact your local pharmacies to get vaccinated. They administer the same vaccines as in our clinics. Local pharmacies may not administer vaccines to infants and toddlers. Please contact your child’s pediatrician’s office if you are having trouble.

Many primary care and specialty offices across Mass General Brigham will offer COVID-19 vaccines at regularly scheduled office visits. Most of our clinics do not offer vaccine-only appointments.

General vaccine questions

Should my updated vaccine be the same manufacturer/brand I received initially, or can I “mix and match”?
The CDC’s recommendations allow for adults 18 years and older to receive a different updated vaccine than their original vaccine.
I already had COVID-19. Should I get vaccinated?

Yes, you should still get vaccinated if you have had COVID-19 and have recovered. If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose by 3 months from:

  • When your symptoms started.
  • If you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive COVID test.

If you have questions, consider asking your doctor. For more information, see the CDC’s website.

Allergies

Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause allergic reactions?

There have been some reports of people having allergic reactions after getting vaccinated. A small number of people had a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Based on this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that people with a history of anaphylaxis to any of the ingredients in a COVID-19 vaccine should not get that vaccine. People with other food or medication allergies can be safely vaccinated.

In general, most patients allergic to one vaccine can receive the other vaccines safely. If you have a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines, injectable therapies, or any component of the COVID-19 vaccine, you should talk to your primary care provider or allergist (if you have one). Your provider can help you decide if it is safe to get vaccinated.

Read more about potential side effects.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

The CDC, our pediatricians and our OBGYNs recommend that those who are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding get vaccinated for COVID-19. Please see the complete recommendations here.

Children

  • All children 6 to 23 months should receive COVID-19 vaccination
  • Children 2 to 18 years with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 or those who have household contacts at higher risk should receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
  • Healthy children 2 to 18 years who have never been vaccinated should receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
  • Healthy children 2 to 18 years who do not fall into the categories above may receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccination
  • Immunocompromised children ≥6 months should receive at least one dose

This guidance means that everyone 6 months and older can receive the COVID vaccine. For certain people, the recommendation to get the vaccine is stronger based on age and risk factors.

Where can I get more information?

Updated September 24, 2026

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