EFFECTIVE March 22, 2023
We hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and well.
Our Board of Directors established a vaccine policy on March 1, 2022 and continues to review it as the science and understanding of the virus evolves. This March 22, 2023 policy is a modification based on current knowledge.
After careful consideration, and in consultation with key medical personnel, the Board of Directors at The Boston House has decided to implement a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for anyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine. This includes staff, volunteers, vendors, and families who stay at The House. This policy is designed to add another layer of protection for all of us, especially the children who are in active treatment.
We understand that this policy is a bit different from the hospitals’ current policies and may affect a small number of guests, although we hope not. This was not an easy decision for our Board, but we recognize that we have a responsibility for our guests and staff, and we are not a hospital, nor do we have the same resources that hospitals have.
Please know that all staff, volunteers, and workers who come into The House have been fully vaccinated. We hope that most or all of you are fully vaccinated and boosted as well.
However, if you are not vaccinated, and you are eligible to stay at The House, you must at least start the vaccination process before your next stay. Thus, beginning on March 22, 2023, to stay at The House, you must show official proof* of having had the vaccine. The following explains what is needed:
THE MODERNA VACCINE
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If you have not been vaccinated at all, you must receive the 1st dose and have an appointment set for the 2nd dose 28 days later, in order to stay at The House; and
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If you have received the 1st dose and 28 days have lapsed since the 1st dose, you must receive the 2nd dose in order to stay at The House.
THE PFIZER VACCINE
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If you have not been vaccinated at all, you must receive the 1st dose and have an appointment set for the 2nd dose 21 days later, in order to stay at The House; and
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If you have received the 1st dose and 21 days have lapsed since the 1st dose, you must receive the 2nd dose in order to stay at The House.
THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE
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If you have not been vaccinated at all, you must receive the 1 dose in order to stay at The House.
If you are fully vaccinated, we highly recommend that you get a booster, but we are no longer requiring such. We reserve the right to require a booster shot in the future if the CDC and our medical advisers deem that as best practice for us.
We hope this policy is not a problem for you. Rather, we hope it is reassuring in that you will know when you stay here that another layer of protection has been added, one that will further shield you and your child from the virus.
Thank you,
Peg and Andy
On behalf of the Board of Directors
(Please note: This policy is subject to revision due to the evolving nature of the pandemic.)
*You can use your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination card or a copy of your vaccination record (digital or paper) as proof of vaccination. If you have lost your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination card or don’t have a copy, contact your vaccination provider directly to request a vaccination card or to get a copy of your vaccination record. If you cannot contact your vaccination provider site directly, contact your state health department’s immunization information system (IIS). Vaccination providers are required to report COVID-19 vaccinations to their IIS and related systems. Your state’s IIS cannot issue you a vaccination card, but they can provide a digital or paper copy of your vaccination record. If you need another COVID-19 vaccine dose and are unable to get a copy of your vaccination card or vaccination record, talk to a vaccination provider. Please contact your state health department if you have additional questions about vaccination records. Your local or state health department can also provide more information about the laws or regulations in your area.