Guide to healthcare services during the December break

MIT Health will be on a holiday schedule from December 24 at 5 p.m. through January 1.  

Urgent Care will remain open from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. all days of the break during the holiday except the service will close at 5 p.m. on December 24 and will be closed all day on December 25 and January 1. All services, other than Urgent Care, will be closed. This includes our laboratory, radiology, and MedStop, our over-the-counter medication kiosk.  

MIT Health clinicians will not be reading HealthELife messages over the break. We have prepared the guide below in case you need care over the December break.  

If you have a health-related emergency:

• Dial 911. As always with health emergencies, call 911 for emergency care or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are sick or have a health-related question:  

• Call us. Our nurse line will be available 24 hours a day throughout the break. Dial 617-253-4481 and you will be routed to our answering service. They will take a message and a nurse will call you back.  

If you need to visit Urgent Care:

• Call us first. Since our laboratory and radiology services will both be closed during the break, we will advise you whether you should be seen on campus, or at different urgent care center in the area.  

If you need a prescription refill:

• Call us first. Clinicians will not be reading HealthELife messages over the break. Call our nurse line at 617-253-4481 and we will help you get the medication you need. Be sure to check your pharmacy’s hours before heading out on Christmas or New Year’s Day. Many will be closed on those days.  

If you need to visit a local urgent care:  

• Call ahead. Ask their hours and make sure they take Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts insurance. All MIT-sponsored health insurance plans allow you to visit in-network urgent care centers.  

If you test positive for COVID-19:

• Visit the CDC COVID-19 website for guidance:
  • Respiratory Virus Guidance
  • COVID-19

If you test positive for COVID-19 and are in a high-risk group, you can talk to a clinician by contacting the telehealth service provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to increase access to Paxlovid for eligible patients.

If you need your vaccine record and you received your vaccines in Massachusetts, you can access them via the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services.