COVID-19 Vaccination Information

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: Two independent advisory committees [ACIP and the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC)] review vaccine safety data. ACIP also monitors post-market safety and effectiveness data for new vaccines. For COVID-19, ACIP has formed a separate Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Subgroup to provide timely evaluation of vaccine safety, both pre- and post-licensure.

Enhanced Safety Monitoring for COVID-19 Vaccines: In addition to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and other systems routinely used by CDC and FDA to monitor vaccine safety, CDC is adding further monitoring programs for COVID-19 vaccines. Data on vaccinated health care workers will be collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system. The Vaccine Safety Assessment for Essential Workers (V-SAFE) program, a smartphone-based active surveillance system, will collect text- or web-based health checks from early vaccine recipients who volunteer to report for six weeks post-vaccination. Any clinically important event(s) reported by the vaccine recipient will be followed up and a VAERS report will be submitted, as appropriate.

Learn more on CDC's Ensuring the Safety of Vaccines.

The biggest portion of the vaccine approval process that was “rushed” is the ramping up of vaccine production. Usually, pharmaceutical companies wait until full approval before starting manufacture, to avoid wasting money and resources if not approved. In the case of the COVID vaccines, the U.S. government paid pharmaceutical companies to go ahead and start ramping up production ahead of approval.

Emergency use authorization (EUA) approval was based on shorter-term follow-up than normal. Normally, they like to follow trials for a year to see how long immunity lasts, so we don’t yet know if a booster will be needed in the future. However, even six months immunity will help with getting back to normal.

According to the CDC, normal side effects include headache, fatigue, injection site soreness and mild fever, which are all common signs that show a vaccine is working to help you build immunity.

There have been no serious side effects. The vaccine has shown no neurological problems (Guillain-Barre Syndrome) or allergic reactions at a rate higher than the placebo. The CDC encourages people with asthma, COPD, etc., to take the vaccine.

After you have received your vaccine, it is important to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing and hand hygiene, because you may still be able to spread COVID-19 to others.

Anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reactions, are extremely rare following a COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDC recommends that individuals with underlying health issues, such as COPD, asthma, diabetes, etc., get the vaccine.

Please wear short sleeves and a mask and plan to practice social distancing. We will not ask for a driver’s license or ID, or for proof of insurance.

No. To receive your first dose of a two-dose vaccine with Avera, you must commit to scheduling your second dose at the same location.

To reschedule your first dose, refer to the link in your confirmation email, or visit here.

When you receive your first dose of a two-dose vaccine, you are committing to your second dose appointment. Receiving your second vaccine dose is a top priority to ensure that you develop immunity.

If you have made every effort to keep your second dose appointment but are unable, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline via email.

No. The CDC says you can consider your series complete.

According to the CDC, the vaccine does not interact or cause false positives with COVID-19 diagnostic (PCR) tests. However, since the vaccine builds antibodies, your COVID-19 antibody test results may be positive.

Avera is recommending that everyone get the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they have recovered from a previous COVID-19 infection. According to the CDC, there is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again; this is called natural immunity. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this.

The CDC recommends that individuals currently under isolation for active COVID do not get vaccinated until their isolation period is complete. Similarly, those under quarantine for COVID close contact should not be vaccinated until their quarantine period is complete to avoid risking exposing vaccination workers.

According to the CDC, if you contract COVID-19 after getting your first dose in a two-dose series, wait until you are out of your isolation period before administering the second dose.

COVID-positive patients must isolate for 10 days after symptoms first appear. They may then receive the second dose if their symptoms are improving and they’ve had no fever for 24 hours.

Asymptomatic positive COVID patients must wait 10 days after a positive test to exit isolation and receive their second dose.

Similarly, if you are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (within 6 feet for a total combined 15 minutes or more), you can get a vaccine after ending quarantine. However:

• You must quarantine for 10 days after exposure, then if you remain asymptomatic, you may exit quarantine.
• You may exit quarantine in 7 days if you have a negative test on day 5 or after.
• Continue to watch for symptoms for 14 days after exposure.

There is no need to re-administer the first dose; after quarantine or isolation has ended and the second dose is administered, the vaccine course is considered complete.

The CDC recommends the vaccine for immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant and cancer patients. It may be less effective but is still recommended.

ACOG (American College of obstetricians and gynecologists) recommends COVID-19 vaccines not be withheld from pregnant individuals who meet the criteria for vaccination based on CDC-recommended priority groups.

According to ACOG, while safety data on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy is not available, there is also no data or signs the vaccine is unsafe that would indicate that the vaccines should be withheld. The vaccines do not enter your cells so do not alter human DNA; therefore they do not cause genetic changes. ACOG recommends pregnant women treat any mild vaccine side effects with acetaminophen.

ACOG says other considerations include how much COVID-19 is in your community, how able you are to limit your exposure, and whether you have underlying health conditions that could mean COVID-19 would be more severe for you.

No data is available on the effectiveness of the vaccine for pregnant women, but ACOG states it is likely similar to non-pregnant adults, in which the vaccine is 85-95% effective. For more discussion, pregnant women are encouraged to discuss with their physician.

According to the CDC, there are no data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating people or the effects of vaccines on the breastfed infant or milk production/excretion. However, COVID-19 vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant. A lactating person who is part of a group recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., healthcare personnel) may choose to be vaccinated.

No, there is no evidence that any of the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility.

The CDC says the COVID-19 vaccine should be separated from other vaccines by at least 14 days before/after. If accidentally given closer to another vaccine, there is no need to repeat either vaccine.

There is also not a lot of data around other medications. However, the trial study had a number of clinical conditions (cardiac, HIV, diabetes), and those participants were on some medication, and that did not present an issue. Some medications may decrease immunity, however the added protection of the vaccine remains worthwhile. You should not receive this vaccine for 90 days after receiving convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies such as bamlanivimab or regeneron.

Different vaccine brands have received Emergency Use Authorization for individuals ages 16 and older or 18 and older. Your vaccination provider will ask for your birthdate to ensure you receive a vaccine that has been approved for your age group.

Individuals with a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic, etc.) to any prior vaccine or other intramuscular/subcutaneous/intravenous injection. This is a precaution and vaccination, if given, should be done in a closely monitored setting. However, if individuals experienced a less severe reaction, vaccine is recommended.

There is no evidence that any COVID-19 vaccine will cause long-term effects.

Even after you are vaccinated, you may still be able to spread COVID-19 to others. To protect those around you, continue masking and social distancing, and consider limiting travel and gatherings, until we learn more. The purpose of getting the vaccine is to protect yourself from getting sick from COVID-19. If enough of us get vaccinated, we will eventually end this pandemic. However, there is no evidence that the vaccine prevents you from being a COVID-19 carrier, so you could still infect others. If you travel out of state, for example, you could bring back one of the variants to South Dakota.

If you are exposed to COVID-19 after you have been vaccinated, your body may be able to quickly fight it off. You may have either minimal symptoms or none at all, especially when compared to not having been vaccinated. Vaccines are not 100% effective so there is a small chance you could contract COVID-19.

Several variants of the COVID-19 virus have been reported by the CDC. To date, data shows that all current vaccines are effective against all known variants, including the United Kingdom variant.

At this time, there is no out-of-pocket cost of the vaccine to the vaccine recipient.

We appreciate any ethical concerns brought forward. Given the urgency of this crisis, inoculation with the currently available COVID-19 vaccines is consistent with Avera’s mission. We will continue to do our part to ensure timely and effective distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Patients will be informed of the vaccine brand when they schedule their vaccine.

Recent guidance from the Vatican and US Bishops about COVID vaccines is available at:

• 3-2-21 USCCB Statement on the Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine
• 12-21-20 Statement of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
• 12-11-20 USCCB Statement on Moral Considerations of COVID Vaccines
• 1-5-21 Bishop DeGrood Video [DT1]