Many people have questions and concerns regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine.
Please review below to read through some commonly asked questions and answers about the vaccine.
1. When should I get my next shot?
2. Who is eligible for a monovalent booster? Who is eligible for a bivalent booster?
3. What is the bivalent booster?
4. Who is considered immunocompromised?
5. Should my booster be the same kind of shot as before?
6. What side effects should I expect from a COVID-19 booster shot?
7. What is a third dose? How is it different from a booster shot?
8. How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?
9. How many shots do I need to get for it to work?
10. Is the vaccine safe to take?
11. What are common side effects?
12. I'm pregnant. Should I get the vaccine?
13. Were people of color included in the vaccine trial?
14. Can I catch COVID-19 from taking the vaccine?
15. How long does it take for the COVID-19 vaccine to work?
16. Is there a group of people that shouldn’t take the vaccine?
17. Do I have to pay for the vaccine?
18. Should I take the vaccine if I already had COVID-19?
19. How long do I have to wait to get the vaccine after testing positive for COVID-19?
20. What if I had a really bad reaction to a flu vaccine in the past? Should I still get the COVID-19 vaccine?
21. What about long-term effects?
When should I get my next shot?
6 months - 4 years:
- 2nd dose should be given 3-8 weeks after 1st dose.
- 3rd dose should be given at least 8 weeks after 2nd dose.
- Boosters are not currently recommended for this age group.
5-11 Years and Older:
- 2nd dose should be given 3-8 weeks after 1st dose.
- Boosters should be given at least 5 months after the 2nd dose.
- Bivalent boosters should be given at least 2 months after the 2nd dose or most recent booster administered.
12 Years and Older:
- 2nd dose should be given 3-8 weeks after 1st dose.
- Bivalent boosters should be given at least 2 months after the 2nd dose or most recent booster administered.
Who is eligible for a monovalent booster?
If you received the Pfizer Vaccine:
- At least 6 months from your second dose and between 6 months and 4 years of age.
Who is eligible for a bivalent booster?
If you received any type of COVID-19 Vaccine:
-
At least 2 months since your most recent dose AND
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Age 6 months and older.
Bivalent boosters include components of the original virus strain and the Omicron variant. They are designed to provide better protection against the Omicron variant which has been circulating widely in the US.
Who is considered immunocompromised?
People are considered to be moderately or severely immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) due to several types of conditions and treatments. Examples include:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
- Received chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy (a treatment to help your immune system attach to and kill cancer cells) or received a stem cell transplant (within the last 2 years).
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
- Advanced or untreated HIV Infection.
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune response.
Talk to your healthcare provider about COVID-19 vaccination and your medical condition.
Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-5yrs-older.pdf for the detailed immunization schedule for those who are immunocompromised. Inform our staff when scheduling that you are immunocompromised to ensure you are scheduled properly.
Should my booster be the same kind of shot as before?
If you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can get the Pfizer COVID-19 Bivalent Booster regardless of the manufacturer of your primary series or previous boosters.
What side effects should I expect from a COVID-19 booster shot?
You will likely have the same or less reaction as your previous shots. You may feel pain at the injection site, swollen glands, fever, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle aches, and joint pain.
What is a third dose? How is it different from a booster shot?
The CDC now recommends that people who are immunocompromised (have diseases like HIV, lupus, and others or are getting medicine or chemotherapy which affects the immune response) should get three shots in order to be considered fully vaccinated and get the full benefit from the COVID-19 vaccines. They will then get a booster shot 6 months after their 3rd dose.
How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are made from messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) which helps the body make antibodies to fight the virus. There is no active virus in the vaccine, so you can’t get COVID from getting a shot. Even though it uses mRNA to help your body recognize and fight COVID, it does not make any changes to any of your genes.
How many shots do I need to get for it to work?
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are taken as 2 shots into the muscle of the arm, given 3-8 weeks apart. Both shots must be taken to be fully vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19. COH will provide both shots for you. You will then get booster shots in the future, just like you do for the flu.
Side effects are minor and short term, especially compared to actually getting COVID. The vaccine was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) under emergency authorization use, but it also went through extensive testing with people of all ages and backgrounds before being approved. Since approval, millions of people have gotten the vaccines with very few problems.
• Fever
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Body aches
• Pain and swelling at the injection site
Were people of color included in the vaccine trial?
More than 30,000 people at 100 clinical research sites in the United States are participating in the study. 37% of trial volunteers are ethnic minorities.
Can I catch COVID-19 from taking the vaccine?
No, but you may experience some flu-like symptoms for 1-3 days which are a sign that your body is building immunity to COVID. The vaccine will not make you test positive for COVID-19.
How long does it take for the COVID-19 vaccine to work?
Your body will reach its fullest protection about 2 weeks after you receive the second shot. It is encouraged that until, and even after this time you continue to practice social distancing and to wear a mask to protect yourself and others. However, CDC guidance is changing all the time about what you can do after being fully vaccinated. More information about these recommendations are here.
Is there a group of people that shouldn’t take the vaccine?
Individuals with a known history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) should ask their provider before getting the shot. However, COH staff will review your medical history with you before you receive the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any shellfish, eggs, latex, preservatives, antibiotics, or products of human or animal origin.
I'm pregnant. Should I get the vaccine?
Current data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccination shows no increased risk of complications or adverse effects in pregnant or breastfeeding people. However, if they get COVID-19, pregnant people are at higher risk of death, stillbirth, and premature labor. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Disease Control now recommends vaccination for pregnant and breastfeeding people.
Do I have to pay for the vaccine?
The vaccine is offered for free. The cost of giving you the shot will be billed to your insurance if you have it. Most insurance companies, including Medicaid and Medicare, will cover this cost so there is no out-of-pocket cost for patients. COH will cover these costs for anyone who does not have insurance coverage for free.
Should I take the vaccine if I already had COVID-19?
Yes. The CDC still recommends that you get a vaccine to boost your immunity so you don’t get COVID again.
How long do I have to wait to get the vaccine after testing positive for COVID-19?
If you have COVID-19 you should wait to get vaccinated until after you feel better and are finished with your quarantine.
If you’ve had a severe reaction to any vaccine in the past, it’s best that you review your history with your doctor prior to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Your provider may recommend that you can still get the vaccine but should stay at the doctor’s office for 30 minutes after getting the shot so we can make sure you are okay.
There is not much data regarding long term side effects, but, the mRNA technology used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has been studied in other vaccines and other medical therapies for many years with no long-term effects.