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COVID-19 Vaccine

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1. Who is eligible to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine?

The CDC recommends for individuals to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose at least 2 months after their last COVID-19 shot. Pfizer and Moderna’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for individuals 6 months and older.

2. What is an updated COVID-19 vaccine?

As of September 12, 2023, the 2023–2024 updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were recommended by CDC for use in the United States. 

The 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines more closely targets the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant and could restore protection against severe COVID-19 that may have decreased over time.

3. Should I get an updated COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve previously gotten a COVID-19 booster?

Yes, the CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and up should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of previous vaccination history. 

4. Can I get an updated COVID-19 dose if I haven’t been vaccinated yet?

Yes, the CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and up should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of previous vaccination history.

5. Can I still get a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine?

As of September 11, 2023, the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available for use in the United States. 

The 2022–2023 bivalent vaccines were designed to protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. 

6. If we need a booster dose, does that mean the vaccines are not working?

Booster doses are common for many vaccines, and over time, booster doses may need to be updated to provide optimal protection against new variants of the virus. The scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines continue to watch for waning immunity, how well the vaccines protect against new mutations of the virus, and how that data differ across age groups and risk factors. To date, booster doses have worked well in extending the protection of the vaccine against serious illness, but have been somewhat less effective in boosting immunity against new variants of COVID-19 compared to the original strain. The updated booster dose formula is designed to protect against original strains of the virus, as well as Omicron variants that account for the majority of current new infections. The latest CDC recommendations on booster doses help to ensure more people across the U.S. are better protected against COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and boosted if eligible. Vaccination and boosting is particularly important for individuals more at risk for severe COVID-19, such as older people and those with underlying medical conditions.  

7. Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

There are several opportunities to get vaccinated in Yakima County. You can find locations on the Yakima Health District's COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.

8. Who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available to anyone 6 months and older. Those 5 years and older eligible to get the bivalent COVID-19 booster dose. For more information, visit CDC’s page here.  

9. What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Common side effects include sore arm, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. Side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection and should go away in a few days. For some people, side effects after the second dose may be more intense than the ones they experience after the first dose. Some people may have no side effects at all. Find helpful tips to relieve side effects here. 

10. How do we know the COVID-19 vaccines are safe?

The COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials and met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Before they became available in Washington, they were also reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the western states Safety Review Workgroup. Both groups voted to recommend the vaccines for immediate use. The FDA and CDC also continue to closely monitor the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines to identify any adverse events related to the vaccines. 

Read more about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.

11. How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?

The COVID-19 vaccine teaches your immune system to recognize the coronavirus. When you get the vaccine, your immune system makes antibodies (“fighter cells”) that stay in your blood and protect you in case you are infected with the virus. You get protection against the disease without having to get sick. When enough people in the community can fight off the coronavirus, it has nowhere to go. This means we can stop the spread quicker and get a little closer to ending this pandemic. 

Watch this video on how vaccines work in your body. 

12. What does it mean to stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations?

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.  

Vaccine recommendations are based on your age, the vaccine you first received, and time since last dose. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines. 

13. Why should I consider vaccinating my child? 

New COVID-19 variants are more dangerous and infectious to children than the original strains. While COVID-19 is often milder in children than adults, children can still get very sick and spread it to friends and family who are immunocompromised or vulnerable in other ways. Children who are infected with COVID-19 can also develop “long COVID-19” or persistent symptoms that often include brain fog, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath. Vaccination is the best way to keep kids healthy and safe. 

14. If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?

You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19. You may consider delaying your vaccine by 3 months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you received a positive test. People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery.

Learn more about the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. 

15. Do I need to pay for the vaccine?

No, the COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone at no cost regardless of insurance or immigration status.

16. What if I received a bill from my provider for the COVID-19 vaccine?

If other services are performed along with the administration of the vaccine, it may be billed as an office visit. Seek clarification from your provider beforehand and from your insurance company if you are charged an office visit fee. 

If this doesn’t address the issue, you can also file a complaint with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner here.If you do not have health insurance, remember that providers are not allowed to charge you for the vaccine and therefore may be violating the requirements of the COVID-19 vaccine program.

Please email covid.vaccine@doh.wa.gov. 

17. What is a vaccination record card?

You should receive a paper vaccination record card when you get your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This card will tell you which type of vaccine you got (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) and the date you received it.If you got the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, the card will tell you when to go back for your second dose. Keep this card with you so your vaccine provider can complete it after your second dose. 

If you lose your record card, log in to MyIR (My Immunization Registry) to look up your COVID-19 vaccination record, and then take a screenshot or photo of the information. If you do not have an account, you can sign up for MyIR any time. For more information, click here.

18. If I have an underlying health condition, can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

People with underlying medical conditions can receive a COVID-19 vaccine as long as they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people with underlying medical conditions. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

19. Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I've had an allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past?

The vaccine should not be given to people with a known history of severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to a previous dose of an mRNA or viral vector vaccine, or to any ingredient of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson-Janssen COVID-19 vaccines.

People who have had severe allergic reaction to other vaccines or injectable therapies may still be able to receive the vaccine. However, providers should do a risk assessment and counsel them about potential risks. If the patient decides to get the vaccine, the provider should observe them for 30 minutes to monitor for any immediate reactions. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that providers observe all other patients for at least 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine to monitor for an allergic reaction.

20. Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

You may choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and have COVID-19, you are at increased risk for severe illness. We recommend talking with your healthcare provider to make the decision. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

21. Where can I report side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

You can download V-safe onto your smartphone to report any side effects to the CDC. Depending on the information you submit to this tool, someone from the CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. You can also report adverse events after vaccination to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

22. What is VAERS?

VAERS is the nation's early warning system that monitors the safety of vaccines after they are authorized or licensed for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS is part of the larger vaccine safety system in the United States that helps make sure vaccines are safe. The system is co-managed by CDC and FDA.

VAERS accepts and analyzes reports of possible health problems- also called "adverse events"- after vaccination. As an early warning system, VAERS cannot prove that vaccine caused a problem. Specifically, a report to VAERS does not mean that a vaccine caused an adverse event. But VAERS can give CDC and FDA important information. If it looks as though a vaccine might be causing a problem, FDA and CDC will investigate further and take action if needed.

Anyone can submit a report to VAERS- healthcare professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and the general public. VAERS welcomes all reports, regardless of seriousness, and regardless  of how likely the vaccine may have been to have caused the adverse event.