"I remember those days and those nights when she would get a little fever or a cough...I was just scared to check her in the morning to make sure she was still breathing."

Roxana reflects on her fear for her children during the pandemic and their vulnerable state. Working a food panty, she consoles another who lost a child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have Long COVID?

Do I have Long COVID?

If you’ve had COVID symptoms - like cough, body aches, fatigue, or “brain fog” - for more than four weeks, you might have Long COVID. With Long COVID, you may feel tired an experience body aches, you might forget things, and you may feel weak or quickly tire.  

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Where can I get vaccinated and boosted?

Where can I get vaccinated and boosted?

As the pandemic has been officially declared over and the restrictions lifted, it is important to remain up-to-date with COVID boosters for you and your family.  These are especially important for those who are at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID variants -- children, those over 65 and anyone who is moderately or severely immunocompromised.

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How do I know the vaccines are safe for my child?

How do I know the vaccines are safe for my child?

Research shows that vaccines are safe for adults and children. Safety experts continue to track the effects of the vaccines.

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How do I know vaccines work in children?

How do I know vaccines work in children?

Did you know that in 2023, COVID has become the 8th leading cause of death in kids under 18 years old? More than influenza, or RSV. COVID has become one of the major causes of death in kids. It is not time to panic, because thankfully, even though COVID is a leading cause of death in kids, death in kids is rare. So even though COVID is a common cause of death in kids who die, not many kids die, and overall, COVID does not kill too many children. But that does NOT mean that we can ignore COVID in kids. Not many kids die of cancer either, but can you imagine a world where we say that cancer in kids does not matter, because only a couple of thousand kids died from cancer last year??

We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children. There have been careful clinical trials followed by monitoring of vaccine outcomes from the very beginning of COVID vaccines . All children ages 6 months and older should get vaccinated against COVID-19. Children who get vaccines do not get infections and serious illness often. Vaccines make it less likely that children will have long COVID health problems. Millions of children and teens have gotten the COVID vaccine.

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Roxana Aguirre

Mi nombre es Roxana Aguirre soy originaria de Guatemala. País que dejé hace 14 años para
poder darle una vida mejor a hija. Y en este país encontré mucho más de lo que alguna vez me
imagine. Pues conocí el trabajo de voluntaria y me di cuenta que recibir se siente bien pero dar
se siente genial.

Translation:
My name is Roxana Aguirre. I am originally from Guatemala, a country I left 14 years ago to be
able to give my daughter a better life. In this country, I found much more than I once had
imagined. I became familiar with the work of volunteers and I realized that to receive feels
good, but to give feels fantastic.

BACK TO STORIES
The Massachusetts Community Engagement Alliance (MA-CEAL), led by Boston Medical Center, is part of a nationwide initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health. MA-CEAL’s mission is to provide trustworthy information on COVID-19 through active community engagement and outreach to the people hardest-hit by the pandemic. Our goal is to build long-lasting partnerships and improve diversity and inclusion in our research response to COVID-19 and beyond.
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