For more information about this season’s COVID-19 vaccine availability, please read the notice below.**
Longwood Pediatrics strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all children 6-23 months of age and encourages it for all children and adolescents.
Longwood Pediatrics will follow vaccine recommendations from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which align with the recommendations of major medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
According to these recommendations, the following groups should receive the COVID-19 vaccine this season:
The following groups may receive COVID-19 vaccine this season:
As of Friday, October 17, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is now available at Longwood Pediatrics for all patients 6 months and older.
You may schedule an appointment via MyChart or by calling our office. Patients who already have an appointment at one of our flu clinics or to see a provider for any reason can get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
The COVID-19 vaccine is provided for patients under 19 by the Commonwealth. All insurers in Massachusetts are required to cover the vaccine.
On October 17, Longwood Pediatrics shared an update on COVID-19 vaccine availability with all patients via email.
Longwood Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend annual influenza vaccination for all patients – especially for children ages 6 months to 2 years, who are the highest risk of hospitalization and death from the flu.
Influenza caused more than 200 pediatric deaths in 2024, at least half in patients without other medical problems. Vaccination remains the best way to protect against the flu.
For more information about the vaccine, read this season's Influenza Vaccine Information Statement below.
FluMist is a nasal spray alternative to the influenza vaccine.
Longwood Pediatrics is offering FluMist to eligible patients during the 2025-2026 respiratory season.
Learn the difference between FluMist and the flu shot by watching a new video on our Instagram!
As part of our commitment to provide the very best preventive care at our office, Longwood Pediatrics strongly supports the administration of all vaccines as recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
We understand that families are faced with conflicting information about the risks and benefits of vaccines. We are committed to providing families with credible, fact-based information about vaccines as part of the informed consent process and to working with families that have questions about vaccines.
When families contact our office to establish care, we will ask if the child's vaccines are up to date and/or if they intend to administer routine childhood vaccines moving forward. In those rare cases where a new family has made a decision not to vaccinate their child, we will recommend that they seek care from other providers.
We do not recommend the practice of splitting up the vaccines or delaying the vaccination schedule. The office will not stock split versions of combination vaccines. We will only administer vaccines on alternative schedules when necessary for catch up schedules or due to medical contraindications to specific vaccines.