Lowell General Hospital – COVID-19 Vaccine

Individuals age 12-17 years old need to present a consent form completed by a parent/guardian/legally authorized representative. This form can be found here: MA Consent and Screening Forms for People Under 18 Years of Age. Please note that the Pfizer vaccine is currently the only vaccine approved for use in those aged 12-17 years old.

Yes

Please make every attempt to make this appointment. If you need to cancel, please call Lowell General Hospital Central Scheduling at 978-937-6023.

Bring your driver’s license or state-issued identification, and health insurance card. If you are 12-17 years old, you will need to present a consent form completed by a parent/guardian/legally authorized representative. This form can be found here: MA Consent and Screening Forms for People Under 18 Years of Age.

Yes, you may schedule your second dose appointment at our site. Please remember to bring your vaccination card to your appointment.

Our goal will be to get you through the entire process in about 30 minutes. This includes a mandatory observation period after you receive the vaccine.

For your convenience and to ensure you receive your dose in the recommended time frame, we will book your 2nd dose appointment for you during your vaccination appointment. Please make every attempt to make this appointment. If you need to cancel, please use the link provided in your confirmation email.

There is plenty of FREE parking at the Saints Campus in the parking garage or in the lot in front of the main entrance.

The Lowell General Hospital Saints Campus is located on the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) bus route. We are served by Route #2 (Belvidere), stop #3.

For non-English speaking community members, we will have interpreter services present to help answer any questions, along with virtual translation assistance.

The Chest and Immunization Center is handicapped accessible and staff are available to assist with wheelchair access.

Two doses for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, 21 days apart.

We are currently providing the Pfizer vaccine at the Chest and Immunization Center.

Please note that the Pfizer vaccine is currently the only vaccine approved for use in people ages 12-17, and so we therefore provide the Pfizer vaccine for those patients.

No, you will not receive a bill for the COVID-19 vaccine.

For those enrolled with a health plan carrier, we will submit a claim for the cost of the administration of the vaccine. Your health plan will not enforce any cost-sharing back to you.

You are not required to have health insurance to receive the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued guidance that people who have an exposure to someone with COVID do not need to quarantine if they are 2 weeks post 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccination. Please refer to the CDC website for latest guidance.

No, you won’t get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

We encourage you to check with your school’s vaccination policy as requirements may vary.

It typically takes a couple of weeks after the last dose in a series to become fully protected. On the days after taking the vaccine, you may have a sore arm, aches, fatigue, or fever, but these are not harmful. These symptoms signal that your immune system is developing protection from the virus.

You must wait to get the vaccine until after your quarantine period has ended to ensure you do not spread the virus to others. Please cancel your appointment and reschedule for after your quarantine period has ended.

It is a best practice to wait 15 minutes after the dose is administered and to be observed to make sure there are no adverse reactions. Serious reactions are very rare, however this is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended precaution.

We encourage all patients to hold onto the CDC issued card we will provide you. Your vaccination administrations will be transmitted to the Massachusetts Immunization Information System, MIIS. Your physician and other providers are able to look up your immunization history through this secure portal.

On check in, we will confirm the brand and date of your first dose. It is possible to have a 2nd card re-issued at the site.

Yes, you should take any of your medications as regularly prescribed.

If you are feeling well, there is no reason you can’t continue your regular activities after receiving the vaccine. You may experience some soreness at the injection site, so you may want to take it somewhat easier than usual. If you experience side effects like fever or fatigue, this is normal and you should plan on taking it easy until you feel better.

You can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen) after receiving your vaccine. Any swelling or inflammation at the injection site can also be relieved by taking an antihistamine like Benadryl.

Yes, you can go to the dentist, doctor appointments, etc. It is safe to resume all normal activities that you were doing prior to vaccination unless specifically directed otherwise by your physician.

Two weeks after receiving your second dose of Pfizer.

Yes, as long as the cortisone shot is not given in the same spot at the vaccine, a localized cortisone injection is very unlikely to impact how effective the vaccine is in boosting your immune system.

Oral steroids suppress the immune system and may somewhat decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine. If you are prescribed these currently by your physician you should not stop them unless otherwise instructed. The benefits of treatment with the steroids likely outweighs any possible risk from mildly decreased effectiveness of the vaccine.

If you have normal symptoms of allergies (itchy eyes, runny nose, etc.) it is fine to get vaccinated. If you become extremely ill (symptoms other than you normally have with your seasonal allergies), you should not get the vaccine and make sure you speak with your physician.

The CDC issued guidance on May 16, 2021 for people who are fully vaccinated from COVID-19 indicating that it is safe to do pretty much anything without a mask. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving your second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after receiving a single dose of the J&J/Janssen vaccine. State, local and business-specific rules still apply, and you should expect to be wearing a mask in a variety of settings for a while.

While the CDC mask wearing guidance means a lifestyle change for many, it is important to note that this guidance does not apply to health care settings. At Lowell General Hospital, we continue to require our employees, patients and visitors to be screened at the entrance to our hospital and to wear a face mask at all times even if fully vaccinated.