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EEC COVID-19 Resources and Information

EEC and the Department of Public Health (DPH) work closely with, stakeholders, medical experts, and state and federal partners to develop solutions that balance the needs of children and families with public health and safety. EEC-licensed programs should continue to make decisions based on available public health data, including levels of community COVID-19 risk.

Visit Mass.gov for COVID-19 Updates and Information:  What you need to know about COVID-19 in Massachusetts

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Health & Safety Guidance

COVID-19 Testing for Child Care Settings

Programs may now begin registering for the March shipment of rapid antigen tests through this new form. Requests must be submitted by Friday, March 3 to receive a March shipment. Shipments will begin the first full week of March. If a program needs an emergency shipment of tests after this shipment, they should similarly submit a request using this same form. For support with ordering tests, please call 781-305-4389.

Para pedir pruebas en español, haga click aquí.

As the federal COVID-19 public health emergency winds down this spring, the March distribution will be the final quarterly distribution of free rapid antigen tests to program. This final distribution will provide tests for four months - March, April, May and June. EEC will continue to fulfill emergency test requests until June 30, 2023.

When using tests, please know that the FDA has extended the expiration dates on the rapid antigen tests several times. Most recently, on January 11, 2023 the FDA extended the expiration date of iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests by an additional 3 months. iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests may be used for up to 15 months from the date of manufacture. Find the new expiration date at https://ihealthlabs.com/pages/news.

As a reminder, EEC, in coordination with the Department of Public Health (DPH), continues to urge providers to leverage our COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time (OST) and Recreational Camp/Program Settings to understand how to handle any cases of COVID-19 in their programs. In alignment with this guidance, EEC and DPH continue to recommend that rapid antigen tests are preferred to PCR tests in most situations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Residential programs should continue to follow EOHHS’s congregate care guidance.  

The EEC COVID-19 Healthline continues to be available, in English and Spanish, to EEC-affiliated programs to support COVID-19 related inquiries and support the implementation of testing guidance. Programs can continue to contact the Healthline via telephone at 857-488-4418 or via this online form. 

The EEC COVID-19 Healthline will continue to be available until June 30, 2023.

COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children

People ages 6 months+ who live, work, or study in Massachusetts should get a COVID-19 vaccine. People ages 5+ should get a booster. 

Find a location at Vaxfinder.Mass.gov 

 

Children Ages 6 months-4 Years Old 

Children ages 6 months through 5 years old who live in Massachusetts are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. You don't need an ID or insurance to get the vaccine. 

Resources 

For more resources about the COVID-19 vaccine, including for children aged 6 months - 4 years old, visit www.mass.gov/CovidVaccineyoungkids.

Children Ages 5-11 

Children ages 5 to 11 who live or go to school in Massachusetts are now eligible to get the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine is safe, free and effective. You don't need identification or insurance to get it. 

Resources

Contact the EEC Covid-19 Healthline with questions related to testing: by calling 857-488-4418 or by clicking here.

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