Cambridge Public Health Department

03/12/2026

There’s a new sharps disposal drop box in Cambridge! It’s at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority - MBTA bus stop at Rindge Avenue @ Russell Field.

The new drop box is to help make it easier for residents to dispose of their sharps safely and help curb sharps left in public spaces. In Massachusetts, it’s illegal to dispose of needles, syringes, or lancets in the regular trash due to safety concerns.

This sharps drop box was funded by City of Cambridge (Official) Participatory Budgeting, meaning it was voted by Cambridge residents. Make sure to vote for the next round which is going on until March 15!

There are also drop boxes including outside Cambridge MA Fire Department Porter Square Fire House, Cambridge Health Alliance Windsor Street Care Center at 119 Windsor Street, and Cambridge Police Department at 125 Sixth Street. When using a drop box, remember to put sharps in a quart-sized plastic container and not deposit loose needles.

Learn more: https://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/services/dispose-of-needles-and-syringes-safely/

CHA Sante Se Lavi CHA Saúde Cambridge Council on Aging City of Cambridge Community Development Department (Official)

03/12/2026

Here are the public health updates as of 3/11/2026: All three updates are reminders of the importance of staying up to date on vaccines.

1) The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reported the eighth death of a child from flu this season, bringing the total number of flu-related deaths to over 300 in MA. It’s important to get a flu vaccine every year to prevent serious illness.

2) The MA Department of Public Health reported that two residents were diagnosed with measles. While there has been no further spread of measles in MA, there have been many outbreaks in the USA. Residents are urged to check their measles vaccine status.

3) The CDC has issued a level 2 Travel Health Notice advising travelers to ensure that their polio vaccinations are up-to-date before international travel. More than 30 countries in parts of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East now have circulating poliovirus. The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated.

https://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/public-health-updates-as-of-3-11-2026/

City of Cambridge (Official) Cambridge Health Alliance

Recent developments related to three specific diseases underscore the importance of staying up-to-date on recommended vaccines for both children and adults.

03/08/2026

It's International Women's Day. It's a global day to continually fight for gender equality, women's health, and women's rights.

03/06/2026

Trader Joe’s is recalling more frozen products due to the possibility that they may be contaminated with glass.

In addition to the Trader Joe’s frozen chicken fried rice that was recalled in February, three additional products have now been recalled.

The full recall now includes the following Trader Joe’s products::

Chicken Fried Rice – Best By Dates 03/04/2026 through 02/10/2027
Vegetable Fried Rice – Best By Dates 02/28/2026 through 11/19/2026
Japanese Style Fried Rice – Best By Dates 02/28/2026 through 11/14/2026
Chicken Shu Mai – Best By Dates 03/13/2026 through 10/23/2026

If you have packages of the products listed above, please do not use them. Please discard the product or return it to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund.

https://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/trader-joes-expanded-recall/

City of Cambridge (Official) Cambridge Health Alliance CHA Saúde Let's Talk Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs, Cambridge MA Cambridge Council on Aging

03/06/2026

You can help decide how to spend $1,000,000 of the City of Cambridge (Official) budget!

The City of Cambridge is excited to once again invite community members to vote on projects aimed at improving the city as part of the 12th Participatory Budgeting (PB) process.

Mark your calendars! From March 5 to March 15 all Cambridge residents aged 12 and older, including non-US citizens, all 6th graders, and university students, will have the opportunity to participate.

Learn more and vote online: at pb.cambridgema.gov
Phone: (617)349-4270
In-Person: See website for locations

https://www.cambridgema.gov/participatorybudgeting

Cambridge Rindge & Latin School Cambridge Council on Aging Let's Talk Cambridge Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee Cambridge Foundry City of Cambridge Community Development Department (Official)

03/05/2026

FYI: Daylight Saving Time starts this Sunday. ⏰Try to begin to wind down a little earlier each night beforehand. Try to avoid screens before bedtime. Also try to get outside and get some natural light each day. These might help you adjust to springing one hour forward in time. Here's to more daylight ahead! 🔆

CHA Sante Se Lavi CHA Saúde CHA Salud es Vida Cambridge Health Alliance

03/04/2026

March marks Women's History Month. Now more than ever, it's important to honor and celebrate women's past and current achievements and contributions to history.

03/03/2026

Applications are now open for our Health Promotion Mini-Grants Program! The program will award up to $20,000 in total funding to projects that promote healthy eating, physical activity, or youth wellness in .

💰 Up to $20,000 in total funding available
💻 Info sessions: March 10 (9:30 AM) & March 12 (4 PM)
🗓 Deadline: April 3, 2026

https://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/news/

Cambridge Health Alliance Let's Talk Cambridge City of Cambridge (Official) Hideo Sasaki Foundation

03/02/2026

We have a winter weather advisory tomorrow through Wednesday morning. The roads may be slick tomorrow. Slow down and use caution while traveling.

Cambridge MA Fire Department Cambridge Health Alliance City of Cambridge (Official) Cambridge Police Department

Snow develops Tuesday afternoon in the interior then changes to rain and freezing rain Tuesday night. A coating to an inch of snow is possible followed by a trace to one tenth of an inch of ice, especially over higher elevations. Untreated roads may become slippery.

03/02/2026

Preventive screenings: Got schedule 'em all!

For cisgender women and all other persons assigned female at birth ages 40-74, mammograms are recommended every 2 years. Some people might start mammograms earlier or have mammograms more frequently. Ask your healthcare provider when and how often you should get screened and make your appointment.

How often you get screened for breast cancer depends on many factors, including your age, your family history, and your screening history. Breast cancer guidelines historically have been made for cisgender women. But breast cancer has no gender. Wherever you are on the gender spectrum, there is some risk of breast cancer.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/getting-screened-for-breast-cancer?_ga=2.23123898.1879790894.1772233014-1977245456.1744823794&_gl=1*37i2p*_ga*MTk3NzI0NTQ1Ni4xNzQ0ODIzNzk0*_ga_MCLPEGW7WM*czE3NzIyMzMwMjMkbzEzJGcwJHQxNzcyMjMzMDIzJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..

Cambridge Health Alliance CHA Saúde City of Cambridge (Official)

02/28/2026

Wondering how you can help prevent an overdose? Join us Tuesday, March 3 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and learn skills that could save lives!

Learn more: https://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/events/virtual-overdose-prevention-and-response-training-2/

This comprehensive one-hour training includes:
- Signs and symptoms
- Risk factors
- Naloxone (Narcan) administration

We and City of Somerville Health and Human Services offer free virtual overdose prevention and response trainings on a monthly basis to the community and free on-site trainings for groups by appointment.

City of Cambridge (Official) Cambridge Police Department Cambridge MA Fire Department

02/26/2026

As Black History Month comes to a close, we like to celebrate inspirational Black public health pioneers with Cambridge connections.

Read about Estelle Paris, a nurse practitioner who dedicated her life to improving the health of Cambridge’s most vulnerable residents; Takako Salvi, the first Black student at Cambridge City Hospital’s School of Nursing; Emory James Clark, the first African American to own and operate a pharmacy in Cambridge; and Dr. Mary Crutchfield Wright Thompson, the first Black woman to practice dentistry in the Boston area, including serving as the Cambridge Public School dentist.

https://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/public-health-updates-as-of-2-25-2026/

City of Cambridge (Official) Cambridge Health Alliance History Cambridge Cambridge Historical Commission Cambridge Public Library Department of Human Service Programs, Cambridge MA

As Black History Month comes to a close, the health department celebrates inspirational Black public health pioneers with Cambridge connections.