05/17/2023
The Federal and Massachusetts COVID-19 Public Health
Emergency Declarations end on May 11, 2023.
Here’s what will change—and what will stay the same.
Free COVID-19 vaccinations continue.
• COVID-19 vaccines continue to be free to everyone in Massachusetts.
Free COVID-19 treatments continue.
• Free telehealth services for COVID-19 treatment continues to be available to Massachusetts
residents ages 18 and older. This is a quick and easy way for people who have COVID-19 to see
if Paxlovid is right for them. If it is, the medicine is free and can be picked up at a local
pharmacy or shipped overnight with free delivery. Learn more at mass.gov/CovidTelehealth.
COVID-19 vaccine dose guidance has changed.
• The CDC issued guidance in April saying that people ages 6 and older are considered up to date
on their COVID-19 vaccination if they have one dose of the bivalent vaccine.
• People who have never had a COVID-19 vaccination are up to date if they get one dose of the
bivalent vaccine.
• People ages 65 and older or who are immunocompromised can get an additional bivalent dose.
Learn more at mass.gov/COVIDvaccine.
The way we talk about COVID vaccine doses has changed.
• Instead of using terms like “boosters” and “primary series,” we are shifting toward talking
about doses—and specifically, bivalent doses.
• If people don’t know if they had a bivalent dose, there are ways you can help them find out.
o Children ages 6 and over who got a booster on October 12, 2022 and children 12 and
over and adults who got their last booster on or after September 2, 2022 would have
received a bivalent dose.
o Vaccination cards say if someone had a bivalent dose. People can also look up their
online vaccination records or contact the place they got their last dose. The "Is it time for
an updated COVID booster?" fact sheet can help people find out if they’re up to date.
COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue.
• DPH Mobile and the Vaccine Access and Administration (VAA) program will continue to provide
clinics upon request from community partners through the Clinic Request Form.
• DPH’s In-home vaccination program will continue to provide services. Information and a link to
request in-home vaccinations are on Mass.gov.
• Communication support for building vaccine confidence and promoting clinics is available
online. To access the Toolkit, visit Mass.gov/VaxPromotionToolkit.
• As needs arise, DPH is prepared to ramp up vaccination clinics in communities with
demonstrated inequities and access issues.
Vaccine Equity Initiative funding for Community Based Programs, Faith Based Programs, and Tribal
and Indigenous Peoples Serving Organizations continues.
• Grants for COVID-19 vaccination outreach from DPH and administered by HRiA and HCFA will
continue through June 2024. Health Resources in Action (HRiA) and Health Care for All (HCFA)
will continue to support these programs through June 2024.
Federal and State mask mandates are ending.
• Federal and State mask mandates, including for hospitals, end on May 11, but healthcare
settings must have their own infection control policies that include masking when there is more
respiratory illness in their community.
Yearly renewal for MassHealth is starting up again.
• MassHealth members should make sure their information with MassHealth is updated. They
may need to provide new documentation so that they can stay in the program. Visit
www.mass.gov/masshealth for more information.
Free home COVID-19 test availability will change.
• After May 11, the federal government will no longer supply individuals with free at-home tests
for COVID-19, but many organizations can order them at a discount. Visit the statewide contract
ordering information page for COVID tests to learn more. Insurers are no longer required to
cover monthly at-home tests.
• MassHealth and other insurance will continue to cover COVID-19 PCR testing when ordered by
a healthcare provider.
MassHealth provides health benefits and help paying for them to qualifying children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities living in Massachusetts. We may offer benefits directly or help pay for all or part of your health insurance premiums. If you are a member, you may have access to doct...
