COVID Tests

MetroWest COVID Vaccination Sites in our 26 cities and towns service area.

Eight free at-home COVID tests are available per household from the federal government.

From MASS.gov: In Massachusetts, visit the Find a COVID-19 test page for more information on PCR and other tests. Visit Get Tested in Massachusetts page to find a testing site.

COVID Tests for Blind and Low-Vision People

The Biden-Harris Administration has launched a new initiative to expand the availability of at-home tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. The tests work with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled smartphone and a free app to provide users with audible instructions and audible test results. Read more about the tests.

How to get the tests: Order online or by calling 1-800-232-0233.

• Each order will include two rapid-antigen tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision.
• Orders will ship free, while supplies last.  

For assistance: Call 888-677-1199 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern) or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.

Free At Home Tests

The Biden Administration announced that COVIDTests.gov is now open for a third round of ordering. U.S. households are now be able to order an additional eight free at-home tests at COVIDTests.gov—bringing the total number of free tests available to each household since the start of the program to 16.

People who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages—8am to midnight ET, 7 days a week. For more information, people can visit: https://www.covid.gov/tests/faq.

Eight free COVID tests are available per household

COVID-19 Booster Eligibility

Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 boosters are available to anyone ages 18 and older. You’re eligible for a booster if:

• Pfizer and Moderna: It’s been at least 6 months since your second dose
• Johnson & Johnson: It’s been at least 2 months since your first dose  

You can mix and match vaccines. You do not need to get the same vaccine brand for your booster as your original COVID-19 vaccination

Visit Mass.gov on boosters for more up-to-date information. Scroll down for information on 2nd boosters.

Vaccine

Vaccinations, including Boosters, can be located at the website: https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/ or call 2-1-1.

How to prepare for your COVID-19 vaccine appointment GUIDE

Covid-19 Resources in multiple languages: https://www.mass.gov/resource/multilingual-covid-19-materials

Visit Mass.gov on Vaccine Locations for the latest and most complete information. 

Framingham Vaccine Info

Framingham Home Bound Residents

FRAMINGHAM – Members of the Framingham Medical Reserve Corp and other City of Framingham health officials began administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine to homebound individuals. Residents who are homebound or functionally disabled may qualify for home vaccinations through the City of Framingham’s Vaccine Equity Program. If you are interested, please call Framingham’s Public Health Nursing Office at 508-532-5667. Leave your name, phone number, and address, and someone will return your call within 24 hours.

Framingham Transportation to Vaccine Appointments

The City of Framingham has created a list of transportation resources to help bring residents to and from their vaccine appointments. View the resource list https://www.framinghamma.gov/3236/Transportation-to-COVID-19-Vaccine-Appoi. Special thank you to the MetroWest Transportation Authority, SMOC, and the Callahan Center for your support.

The Framingham Council on Aging offering free rides to those aged 60+ to get their vaccine: The Council on Aging Department is providing free taxi service to people 60 and older who need transportation to a vaccine site. Transportation is available to sites set up with the COVID Equity initiative, such as churches, local pharmacies, and mass vaccination sites. BayPath Elder Services is administering this service through the Older American’s Act funds. To sign up for this service, contact Sam Swisher at the Callahan Center with at least one week’s notice: sps@framinghamma.gov or (508) 532-5980, extension 4113.

Second Dose Appointment

• If you are receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, you must receive both doses. You should schedule your second-dose appointment on-site as you are leaving your first vaccination.
  • Pfizer: Second shot recommended 21 days after first shot (can be up to 42 days)
  • Moderna: second shot recommended 28 days after the first shot (can be up to 42 days)
• You must get the same type of vaccine both times.
• The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is one dose only

211

Anyone who cannot sign up online can call 211 to pre-register and receive notifications by phone.

Vaccine Eligibility

Anyone ages 6 months and older who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts can get the vaccine for free.

MassHealth rides for vaccine

MassHealth has made changes to its non-emergency transportation policy to expand eligibility and simplify processes for transportation to and from COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

MassHealth is providing free transportation to vaccine appointments to any individual that has any type of MassHealth coverage or the Health Safety Net. This includes people with MassHealth Limited, Children’s Medical Security Program (CMSP) and MassHealth Family Assistance (FA).  In addition, members can request transportation services directly through MassHealth’s Customer Service, rather than needing to request services through a health care provider.  If an individual has MassHealth or the Health Safety Net, they (or a caregiver) can be encouraged to call their health plan or MassHealth directly to schedule free transportation at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648). 

To find the transportation broker for your area, visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/providing-rides-through-the-hst-brokerage.

However, MassHealth members who are enrolled in a Senior Care Options or One Care plan or in a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) should continue to contact their health plan or PACE provider to request help with transportation.

Homebound MA Residents and In-home Vaccinations

The Homebound Vaccination Program is for all eligible residents who are unable to get to a vaccine site. You can call (833) 983-0485 to sign up.  

In-home Vaccine Eligibility

In-home vaccinations are available for anyone who is unable to get to a vaccine location.

Sign up for an In-home Vaccine

Homebound residents or their assistants can call 1-833-983-0485 to begin the process of scheduling an in-home vaccine appointment. The line will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., available in English and Spanish and with translators available for other languages.

Many local Boards of Health are managing their own homebound vaccination programs for their community. The Central Intake Line will help connect homebound individuals from across the Commonwealth with the right resource.

If in-home vaccination is appropriate, individuals will be registered with the State Homebound Vaccine Provider, Commonwealth Care Alliance, or referred to their local Board of Health.

Massachusetts Homebound Vaccination Program (Word)

Massachusetts Homebound Vaccination Program (PDF)

Myths about the Vaccine

Myths about the vaccine from Sanford Health:

• Myth: It was rushed and isn’t safe. FACT: Researchers took no safety shortcuts. Large studies show the vaccine is safe.
• Myth: It changes your DNA. FACT: It’s impossible for the vaccine to change your DNA.
• Myth: It can give you Covid-19. FACT: The vaccine does not contain a live virus strain.
• Myth: It contains egg protein. FACT: It does not contain egg proteins and can be given to people with egg allergies.
• Myth: It causes severe side effects. FACT: For most, the vaccine causes mild side effects that resolve in a few days.
• Myth: It makes women infertile. FACT: There is no evidence that the vaccine causes infertility.

Civil Rights and COVID-19

Learn about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice Guidance on Long Covid as a Disability.

Congregate Settings

Nursing Home Family Resource Line

617-660-5399
Open Every Day – 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – a dedicated phone line to connect family members of nursing home and rest home residents with the information and resources they need. This new phone line provides one central contact for families and community members who have questions about the nursing home or rest home care their loved one is receiving during the COVID-19 outbreak. Staff will field questions on a range of topics and coordinate across state agencies to help provide answers.

Framingham

• All Coronavirus info: Visit Framinghamma.gov/covid19.
• Temporary Assistance: Visit www.framinghamma.gov/2953/Temporary-Financial-Assistance for programs available to Framingham residents.
• MWRTA – “4 Grocery” shuttle runs hourly between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. to carry shoppers from the Framingham hub to the Market Basket in Ashland, Roche Bros. in Natick, and the Wegman’s at the Natick Mall. Read more at mwrta.com/routes/fixed-routes/route-4N.

Masks for PCAs

Consumers of the Massachusetts PCA program can get free masks and gloves delivered for PCAs from their union, 1199SEIU. PCAs can order the masks online using the 1199SEIU order form.

MA Department of Public Health

DPH has posted information and fact sheets in several languages, as well as updated Massachusetts information on Covid-19 at Mass.gov DPH.

MassHealth Information

Consumer Information: www.mass.gov/info-details/masshealth-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-applicants-and-members

General MassHealth Information: www.mass.gov/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-and-masshealth

90 Day Supplies of Medication for MassHealth Members: www.mass.gov/doc/pharmacy-facts-141-march-12-2020-0/download

PPE – Personal Protection Equipment for Covid-19 Positive Members

MassHealth PPE Program for COVID-19 Positive Members will get a supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) sent to the home of MassHealth members receiving certain MassHealth covered in-home services and supports and who have a documented case of COVID-19 so that they can continue to receive services at home by their personal care attendant (PCA), independent nurse, or direct care worker. Download the file below for more information.

PCA Users

PCA Overtime Limits: MassHealth is temporarily suspending the overtime limits (weekly hour limits) listed under 130 CMR 422.418(A) for the PCA program. Pursuant to this change, until further notice, a Consumer may schedule a PCA to work overtime hours without requiring prior authorization from MassHealth. Consumers should schedule their PCAs with the health and well-being of both Consumer and PCA in mind.

Please note that you still cannot exceed the maximum number of hours per week approved for in your PA. This is only waiving the overtime piece in case a PCA needs to work additional hours for more than 1 consumer putting them over 40 hours. The PCA will not be in danger of being sanctioned by MassHealth until further notice. Learn more from mass.gov pca overtime.

Temporary Expansion of Home Health Aide Services: Please visit the link and learn more about how anyone experiencing disruption in their PCA services can user Home Health Aide Services. Read www.mass.gov/doc/home-health-agency-bulletin-56/download or visit MassOptions.org. MassOptions hotline at 1-844-422-6277.

If you or a family member or friend is a MassHealth member who receives hands-on support from a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) but is short PCAs during the COVID-19 outbreak, call the MassOptions hotline at 1-844-422-6277 to obtain home health aide services.

Long Term Supports and Services, including PCA Management Agencies and Fiscal Intermediaries: https://www.mass.gov/doc/ltss-provider-updates-for-covid-19/download

Housing

COVID-19 Legal Help Project

Eviction Diversion Initiative: Through the COVID-19 Eviction Legal Help Project (CELHP), a substantial expansion of free legal help for low-income tenants as well as low-income owner-occupants of 2-3 family properties navigating the eviction process has started. These services can be used before the eviction process begins, as well as once a notice has been received, and can be used in coordination with the mediation services we have already rolled out.  For these services income eligibility is capped at 200% of federal poverty level.

Services will be available in every region and can be found on a new website built for this initiative: https://evictionlegalhelp.org/. Households can also call 2-1-1, and learn more at our website, www.mass.gov/CovidHousingHelp.  

Resources such as a new video in English and Spanish, social media posts and new flyers in seven languages (Chinese, Haitian Creole, Khmer, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese ) can be found on our website.

Legal help is available right now for income-eligible tenants facing eviction.  We strongly encourage tenants and landlords to learn about legal help as well as community mediation resources. Eligible tenants and landlords should seek help as soon as possible, before a court filing occurs.

There also is a website, Resources for Renters, Homeowners, and Landlords, in English and Spanish.

CHAPA

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, CHAPA is adapting their operations and policy priorities. COVID-19 Affordable Housing Resources: www.chapa.org.

DHCD and RAFT

Department of Community and Housing Development (DHCD) – including updates for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program – www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-dhcd-website#residential-assistance-for-families-in-transition-(raft)-program-and-covid-19-state-of-emergency-

Evictions

Visit Mass.gov for eviction protection information: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-eviction-information.

Food

Massachusetts Food Pantries at foodpantries.org.

Call Project Bread’s Food Source Hotline: 1-800-645-8333

Call Mass 2-1-1

The Mass. Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is issuing emergency SNAP (food stamp) supplements to many SNAP households to help buy food during the pandemic crisis. Congress approved special SNAP supplement benefits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apply on-line at www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-snap-benefits-food-stamps.

Massachusetts residents can use SNAP benefits to purchase groceries online via Walmart and Amazon, with more grocery retailers hopefully joining the program soon. Visit Mass.gov snap for more information.

Education

Schools are back in person. Learn more, including positive tests in your school district, at www.doe.mass.edu/covid19.

Finances

The National Disability Institute has put together resource pages about the financial impact that Covid-19 has on people with disabilities and those with chronic health conditions, as well as their families and communities. Visit their National Resilience Center for more information.

Unemployment

Visit the State Unemployment Insurance page for online application forms, as well as links to rules and exceptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. www.mass.gov/unemployment-insurance-ui-online.

Social Security

See updates on benefits related to Covid-19: www.ssa.gov/coronavirus

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will automatically receive automatic Economic Impact Payments. Download the SSI Economic Impact document for more information:

Mental Health

• Challenges for people with autism: www.spectrumnews.org/news/flattening-the-curve-may-pose-tough-challenge-for-autistic-people
• Resources for those in recovery from substance abuse by Natick Health Department: mcusercontent.com/65f459b465f99361bcee7b2b5/files/61e40f15-1f91-4fd6-a823-ebb1446de041/COVID_19_Recovery_Resources_6_.pdf
• Resource page from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Massachusetts: namimass.org/online-and-phone-support-options/
• Institute for Health and Recovery, Inc. has shared a comprehensive document listing many kinds of community resources for coping and accessing help during COVID-19. 
  • Comprehensive document listing many kinds of community resources for coping and accessing help during COVID-19: Covid-19 Online and Phone Resources (pdf).

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources

American Sign Language

• ASL Coronavirus Hotline from CSD (Communication Service for the Deaf) – www.csd.org/coronavirus – you can call using videophone. Vlogs and articles about COVID-19 are created by Deaf people. There are links to trusted sources (like World Health Organization and CDC) for news about the pandemic.
• The CDC has created several helpful American Sign Language videos. Visit YouTube.com.
• Six Tips for Anxiety and Fear from Dr. Jaime Wilson a Deaf Neurophsychologist on Facebook – www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2704435676321084
• March 11, 2020 Update from MCDHH Commissioner Steven A. Florio – www.youtube.com/watch?v=IinFKi5zykE&feature=youtu.be

Other Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources

• Center for Living and Working:  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Independent Living Services (CLW-DHILS) – Special Edition Newsletter 4-3-2020.pdf
• The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) has created a Visual Communication tool for Covid-19
  • English Visual Communication Tool
  • Spanish Visual Communication Tool
• ASL Therapists in MA – from Psychology Today

Disability Rights and Healthcare

We have heard threats and warnings that healthcare may need to be rationed, and that “someone” may have to decide who gets treated and who does not. These warnings are especially frightening for people with disabilities who may feel undervalued. The Disability Rights and Education Fund has compiled information on this topic. You can download their pdf document: Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability.

From HHS – a bulletin from March 28: Civil Rights, HIPAA,and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 .pdf

From the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities is this one page fact sheet for health care providers.

From ACL (Administration for Community Living)

ACL has compiled resources for seniors and people with disabilities: acl.gov/COVID-19.

COVID-19 Info By and For People with Disabilities

• From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • COVID-19 Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers (English)
  • Materiales sobre el COVID-19 para las personas con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo, y los proveedores de cuidados in Español (Spanish)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Plain Language By Self Advocates Becoming Empowered.
• COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities from the Green Mountain Self Advocates and the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council: Plain-Language-Information-on-Coronavirus.pdf.
• COVID-19 Plain Language Guidance for Employees with Developmental Disabilities, describes OSHA rules and including information and tools to use to make a decision about going out in public during the COVID-19 outbreak. selfadvocacyinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-19-Plain-Language-Guidance-for-Employees-with-Developmental-Disabilities-ENTIRE-BOOKLET.pdf