CHA pediatric clinics follow CDC and Massachusetts immunization guidelines. Immunizations are the best way of preventing many serious childhood illnesses.

During the first ten years of life, it is recommended your child receives the following recommended vaccines, based on their age, to provide the best protection from serious illness:

What vaccinations should my preteen and teenager receive?

Children aged 11-12 are recommended to receive the following vaccines:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine
• HPV vaccine
• Tdap
• Flu vaccine

Resources:

• Click here for the 2024 recommended immunizations for children from birth through 6 years old.
• Click here for the 2024 recommended immunizations for children 7-18 years old.
• Click here to learn more about these vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As part of your annual wellness visit, you will want to make sure you are up to date with all of your vaccines. As you get older, your immunity from your childhood vaccines may wear off. You are also at risk for other diseases as an adult based on your age, health conditions and lifestyle.

What are the recommended vaccinations for adults?

• The seasonal flu shot
• The COVID-19 vaccine
• Hepititis B
• Tdap
• Zoster vaccine (shingles vaccine)
• Pneumococcal vaccines
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine

Talk to your provider at your next annual wellness visit to make sure you are up to date on your recommended vaccines. Learn more about these vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by clicking here.

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older receive an updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. The new vaccine will help protect against serious illness as a result of contracting COVID-19 this fall and winter. Please be on the lookout for when the COVID-19 vaccine will be available at CHA. 

Why get vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective. They are the best protection against serious illness and being hospitalized from COVID-19.

Who can get a vaccine?

Everybody 6 months and older can now get a COVID vaccine. Vaccine recommendations are based on your age, the first vaccine you may have received, and the time since your last dose.

CHA strongly encourages everyone to get fully vaccinated to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. 

How can I get a COVID-19 Vaccine?

If you have an upcoming CHA appointment, just ask for a COVID-19 vaccine when you come in. You can schedule a vaccine appointment on MyChart or by calling your primary care center. You can also schedule an appointment at one of our community flu/COVID vaccine clinics.

If you are not a CHA patient, call a care center near you or your local pharmacy to get a vaccine.

Learn More on our COVID-19 Vaccine Page

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is very contagious but preventable with a vaccine. Found in bodily fluids, Hep A can be easily transmitted through person-to-person or sexual contact. Eating contaminated food and drink is another way to get Hep A. 

The best way to protect yourself against Hep A is to complete the two dose series of the vaccine. Vaccination is recommended starting at 12 months old and is proven to be safe and effective. If you think you were exposed to the virus, you can reduce your risk of illness by receiving a single dose of the vaccine within two weeks of exposure. 

Some people may be at higher risk of infection and serious illness. These people may include:

• People who use or inject drugs

• Men who have sex with men

• International travelers

• Pregnant woman

• Unhoused people

• People with chronic liver disease or HIV

Contact your primary care provider to make sure you are up to date on your Hep A vaccine. 

CHA’s Zinberg Clinic offers expert medical care for patients who develop Hep A. Click here to learn more about the Zinberg Clinic. 

More Hepatitis A Information

Influenza (flu) is a disease of the body’s respiratory system, which includes the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu is caused by a virus and can be very serious, especially for people with certain health conditions. Flu season typically lasts from October through May, but peaks between December and February. During an average flu season, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and there are tens of thousands of deaths, caused by influenza. Getting vaccinated against the flu significantly lowers your risk of getting serious illness and complications. 

Flu vaccines are manufactured each year to provide protection against the multiple influenza viruses that research indicates will be transmitted the most during the upcoming flu season. There are different flu vaccine options available and are recommended based on ages groups. Everyone 6 months and older are recommended to receive a flu shot each year. Most flu vaccines are given with a needle in the arm, but there are nasal spray vaccines availble as well. Some people may be advised against getting a nasal spray flu vaccination like pregnant woman. Certain groups of people with specific health conditions or allergies are not recommended to receive a yearly flu shot.  

Common side effects of the vaccine include soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches and fatigue.

If you have any concerns about getting an annual flu shot, talk to your provider before the start of flu season.

Learn more about flu shots

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to life threatening conditions, especially in young children under the age of 5. Symptoms include high fevers, cough, runny nose and a rash. Serious complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis and can even lead to death.  

Measles spreads easily through air droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. An infected person can spread measles to others up to 4 days before they know they’re infected, and can continue spreading the disease 4 days after symptoms appear. The virus can even live for two hours in the air after an infected person leaves an area. 

How to protect yourself and your family:

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles. The vaccine is given in two doses. The first dose is recommended between 12-15 months of age, the second when a child is 4-6 years old. 

Most people who are vaccinated with the MMR vaccine will be protected for life. If you have documentation of 2 MMR vaccines or were born before 1957, there is no need for additional vaccines.  

Hear from our division chief of infectious diseases, Lou Ann Bruno-Murtha, DO, about measles and whether you should consider getting your children vaccinated. Click here to watch the video.

Traveling:

If you are traveling internationally or in an area with a Measles outbreak, it is recommended that you are fully vaccinated. Infants 6-11 months old should get 1 dose of the MMR vaccine, followed by 2 more doses after their first birthday. 

Please contact your provider to make sure you and your family are up to date on their recommended vaccinations. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html 

Meningitis is swelling around the brain and the spinal cord. It is most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infection (other causes can be fungus, injuries, or certain medications). Some meningitis infections will not require any medical treatment or care, but others can cause hospitalization or death. Vaccination against meningitis can protect yourself and others.

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Mpox (Monkeypox) shows up as a rash or lesions usually after flu-like symptoms. Please visit our Mpox information page for more details and to learn about vaccine availability.

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People with RSV usually have cold-like symptoms and recover in a week or two. But, RSV can be serious especially for high risk patients. Infants and older adults may need to be hospitalized. 

As of September 2024, the CDC recommends RSV vaccines for all adults ages 75 years and older, and for adults ages 60–74 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV. The vaccine is given as a single dose.

Severe risk includes people with:

• Chronic heart or lung disease
• A weakened immune system
• Certain other medical conditions, including severe obesity and severe diabetes
• Live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
• Newborn babies whose mother did not receive the RSV vaccine

Please call your CHA Care Center to schedule a vaccine appointment. Anyone over 65 can get an RSV shot at any CHA Pharmacy.

If you are pregnant, you can get vaccinated between weeks 32-36 to protect your newborn after birth. Please ask your provider at your next prenatal visit. 

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Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful itchy rash.  Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus also known as chickenpox. Your risk of getting shingles increases as you get older, if you already had chickenpox, or you are immunocompromised. About one third of the U.S. population will get shingles. Vaccination against shingles starting at 50 years old can protect yourself and others.

Learn More

Getting vaccinated during your pregnancy protects you and your baby against serious illnesses, especially during the first few months of your babies life. Getting recommended vaccinations while you are pregnant helps your body create protective antibodies (what is needed to fight off illnesses) that you can pass on to your baby. The CDC recommends the following 5 vaccines during pregnancy:  Flu, Covid, Tdap, RSV, & HepB. Click here to learn more about the 5 recommended vaccines during pregnancy. 

The COVID-19 vaccine has been found to be safe and effective for both mother and baby. If you are pregnant, you are more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19 and are at a higher risk for complications. Therefore, it is now recommended for pregnant women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during their pregnancy. We understand there are a lot of questions and hesitancy towards receiving the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant. To try to make your decision easier, we have created some videos for you that will hopefully answer your questions about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant. Click the links below to watch:

• Being pregnant and getting COVID vaccine
• Getting the COVID vaccination while pregnant
• What are the risks of getting vaccinated while pregnant?
• Do COVID vaccines cause infertility?

Routine vaccines are safe and recommended for breastfeeding mothers. It is important to stay up to date on your vaccinations to keep you and your new baby healthy. Talk to your provider today about getting vaccinated during your pregnancy. 

If you are traveling outside the US, you may need special precautions to protect your health, including immunizations or medicine. First, make sure you are up-to-date on all of your routine vaccines, then check out how CHA can help you customize your health travel plans based on your destination!

At CHA we provide a full range of services to help adults and children stay safe and healthy during travel. 

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