/ COVID-19 Information

Updated June 2, 2023

BCHC will not be offering Covid Vaccine Clinics during June, July or August.  Check back for Fall dates!

Latest recommendations are for ALL Covid 19 doses to be the updated Bivalent vaccine.

* Moderna Vaccines – All Covid 19 vaccines for ages 6 months and older available.
* Pfizer Vaccines – Ages 12 and older;
We will be able to accommodate additional doses and boosters in most cases.

The Do Your Part Berks website https://www.doyourpartberks.com/  will continue to inform you of vaccine availability options in our community or  https://vaccinatepa.org/counties/Berks_County

If you have other questions, please call 610-988-4838 ext. 2031

COVID 19 VACCINE INFORMATION

BCHC is committed to vaccinate as many of our community members as we can.  All Pennsylvania residents over the age of 6 months are able to get the Covid 19 vaccine.

For more information on available vaccines, visit Vaccine Safety

FDA Authorizes Changes to Simplify Use of Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines

There are a lot of questions regarding the vaccine.  It's ok - just ask your healthcare provider!  Here are some of the common myths.

WHAT IS THE BIVALENT BOOSTER?

The bivalent booster is the most recent version of the COVID-19 vaccine. It contains both the original vaccine strain [of the virus] and a strain derived from the BA.5 omicron variant, which is currently dominating here in the U.S., so that we can maximize protection against severe disease and potentially from infection.

CAN YOU GET THE FLU SHOT AND THE NEW BOOSTER AT THE SAME TIME?

Absolutely. CDC says there’s nothing wrong with getting both at the same time. I think it’s probably one of those situations where if you’re going in to get one, it’s probably good to get the other. We know from past experience that when people go in to get one vaccine and say, “Well, I’ll get the next one in a week or two,” a lot of them never come back. If you have the opportunity to get both, I would say get them at the same time. Both will be aiming to do the same thing: protect from severe disease. Many of the same populations that are vulnerable to severe COVID are the same populations that are vulnerable to severe influenza.

COVID 19 TESTING

Berks Community Health Center is providing COVID-19 testing for the entire community in Reading.  You do not have to be a BCHC patient to make an appointment for a COVID-19 diagnostic test.  Testing is by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call ahead for screening and to register for an appointment time for testing.  To register for COVID-19 testing, please call BCHC at 610-988-4838 ext. 2031