Your Guide to COVID-19 Vaccination
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a virus that is part of the coronavirus family. COVID-19 can be transmitted from person to person and causes symptoms that can range from mild to severe, including death in a small percentage of cases. The infection can also be carried and transmitted by some without symptoms.
How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?
The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, approved in December 2020, use messenger RNA (mRNA) which delivers a small genetic “message” that causes your own cells to make a protein that resembles the spike on the outer shell of the tiny COVID-19 virus. Your immune system then recognizes this protein as foreign, and produces specific antibodies and specialized immune cells (T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes) that quickly spring into action if the virus itself shows up in the future.
The Novavax vaccine uses proteins from the COVID-19 virus to create an immune response. This is similar to how many widely used vaccines work, such as vaccines for human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and shingles.
How is the vaccine given?
The vaccine is given as an injection into the muscle.
Can I receive the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine with other vaccines?
Yes. All authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines can be given alongside other approved immunizations (like flu or pneumonia shots).
Adolescent or young adult males may consider waiting 4 weeks after JYNNEOS™ vaccination before getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart). However, it’s not necessary to delay monkeypox vaccination should you need it after your COVID-19 booster. If you’re not sure about the timing, talk with your healthcare provider.
What are the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be highly effective in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19. We’ve also learned that this protection fades over time, especially for people who are older or who have health conditions that affect their immune system.
What are the potential harms from the COVID-19 vaccine?
Common side effects may include pain around the area of the injection, feeling tired, headache, muscle aches, and less commonly, fever. So far, severe side effects have been reported to be very rare with these current COVID-19 vaccines. As with all vaccines, there have been rare reports of serious allergic reactions to the vaccine. If you've ever had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis to any ingredient in either of the COVID-19 vaccines, it is not considered safe to get that specific vaccine. If you have a history of severe allergic reactions, please speak to your healthcare provider for guidance before being vaccinated.
Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) is another possible side effect that is associated with the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna). Adolescent and young adult males have experienced higher rates of myocarditis compared to other groups, but overall, it's not common. Please check out the CDC site about myocarditis and talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
What should I do if I experience side effects from the vaccine?
If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital.
Otherwise, please contact One Medical if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
You are encouraged to report vaccine side effects to the FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967 or you can report online.
We also recommend enrolling in V-Safe, a new voluntary smartphone-based tool that helps the CDC monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. You will be given information on how to sign up at your vaccination appointment. For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/vsafe.
Who should not get the COVID-19 vaccine?
You should not get a COVID-19 vaccine if you have had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine OR a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine. We recommend speaking with your healthcare provider first to decide if a COVID-19 vaccine is right for you.
Ingredients:
Moderna
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)
Lipids (SM-102, polyethylene glycol [PEG]. 2000 dimyristoyl glycerol [DMG], cholesterol, and 1,2-dostearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phodphocholine [DSPC])
Tromethamine
Tromethamine hydrochloride
Acetic acid
Sodium acetate
Sucrose
Pfizer/BioNtech
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)
Lipids (lipids ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate), 2 [(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine, and cholesterol)
Potassium chloride
Monobasic potassium phosphate
Sodium chloride
Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, and sucrose.
I’ve had COVID-19 already. Should I still get a vaccine?
Yes. Even if you’ve had a COVID-19 infection, it's still possible to get infected again.Vaccination will help prevent complications in the event of future infections.
People with a current COVID-19 infection should defer the vaccine until they have recovered from acute illness and can discontinue isolation. They may also consider waiting 3 months post-infection to get the vaccine.
Should I get the vaccine if I am pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding?
We agree with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in supporting anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding to choose to get vaccinated if desired, especially if they are part of a high-risk group. Pregnancy testing is not needed prior to vaccination, and those who are trying to get pregnant do not need to postpone COVID-19 vaccination nor avoid pregnancy after getting vaccinated. If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy or breastfeeding, please speak with your healthcare provider.
Should I get the vaccine if I am immunocompromised or on a medicine that affects my immune system?
COVID-19 vaccines may be administered to immunocompromised persons who do not have contraindications to vaccination.
Should I get the vaccine if I am on blood thinning medication?
Those on blood thinning medication may safely be administered the COVID-19 vaccine. Please inform the person administering your vaccine that you are taking blood thinning medication so they ensure you get the best care.
How much will the vaccine cost?
According to the CDC, “Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available to most adults living in the U.S. at no cost through their private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid plans.”
What if I decide not to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
It’s completely up to you if you want to get vaccinated or not. Whether or not you decide to get vaccinated, please continue to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing, staying home when you don't feel well, washing your hands frequently, etc.
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