Dover COVID-19 Updates & Information

Maintaining Emotional Health & Well-being

 Taking care of your emotional health and well-being during this time is important. Decreasing stress can help bolster your immune system and can help keep you and others around you healthy. Please visit the Mass.Gov website for important resources and tips. 

Travel Notification Requirements

• In Massachusetts, if you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic. Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. If you haven't been vaccinated yet, visit vaxfinder.mass.gov. More details about travel restrictions are available at mass.gov/matraveler.
• If a recent traveler in your home develops any symptom of COVID during quarantine, they should be tested and should contact their primary care provider.  The CDC list of COVID symptoms is at:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html., and testing sites are available at:   https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-testing.  Please note that many local grocery stores deliver, either directly or through Instacart, and the Dover Council on Aging, at 508-513-5734, is available, no matter your age, to advise about other logistical problems that may arise during the quarantine period

VACCINE BOOSTER DOSES

The FDA and the CDC have authorized booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for certain populations and for individuals in high-risk occupations who have received a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.  The FDA and CDC will address the need for boosters for people who have received primary series of Moderna and J&J vaccines shortly.

The CDC recommends:

• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditionsmay receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

To find a local vaccination site, visit vaxfinder.mass.gov. For individuals who are unable to use Vaxfinder, the COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Phone Line is available by dialing 211 Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM-6:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 9AM-2PM

Vaccine Distribution Information

Council on Aging and Board of Health staff will be updated on alternative options to scheduling appointments online, including via phone; these options will be communicated when received. Family members are able to book appointments for someone eligible who needs assistance. If you need help with scheduling a vaccine appointment, please contact Dover COA at 508-315-5734 or coa@doverma.gov    

Dover

• Council on Aging: Is providing support with registering for the vaccine to Dover residents 65 years of age or older and can provide transportation to adjacent towns. To contact the COA call: (508) 315-5734.
• BayPath Elder Services: Is available to assist individuals 65 and older with making an appointment for the vaccine. You may call (508) 573-7200 to speak with someone at BayPath.

COVID-19 Vaccine Questions and Answers

Who is eligible to receive COVID vaccine now?
People age 12+ who live, work, or study here in Massachusetts can get vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccine is free, safe, and effective. You don't need an ID or insurance to get it. People ages 12-17 can recieve the Pfizer vaccine. People age 18+ can receive any vaccine.

Where is the vaccine available?
Visit vaxfinder.mass.gov to find a location near you.

I need help.  I have a computer but need coaching about online registration and appointment scheduling
Please contact the Dover Council on Aging at 508-315-5734

I need help.  I can't use a computer to make an appointment..
If you are 75+ and aren't able to use a computer, please call 211 for assistance. See the graphic above for additional information. You may also contact the Dover Council on Aging at 508-315-5734

If I’ve had COVID-19, should I be vaccinated, and when?
If you have had COVID-19, you should be vaccinated, as reinfection can occur, and it is very likely that vaccination will help prevent reinfection.  If you had COVID-19 and were treated with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should defer your vaccination for three months following the treatment.  

After I have been vaccinated, can I stop wearing a mask and avoiding close contact with others?
After you are vaccinated, please continue to wear a mask, wash your hands often, maintain physical distance, and avoid indoor settings with people who aren’t members of your immediate household. These measures remain important  because people who have been vaccinated sometimes can be infected and spread the virus even while they are  asymptomatic or very mildly ill.  

How can I stay up to date about COVID-19 vaccination?
The Board of Health and Council on Aging will continue to post updates on the town website and will send them by email to people who have signed up for alerts or who are on the COA email list.  The Department of Public Health posts information updates at mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.