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.

Early data on the vaccines show mild and temporary side effects like headache, fatigue 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.

Gloves are not required PPE for vaccinators. Giving vaccinations without gloves is safe for both you and your vaccinator.

The two initial vaccines projected for release are two-dose series vaccines and are not interchangeable. It’s important that you schedule your second dose while getting your first dose because your booster must be from the same manufacturer. According to Pfizer, its second injection increases effectiveness from 50% after the first dose, to 94% after the second dose.

Unfortunately, at this time, there is not enough vaccine for everyone who is requesting it. Vaccine allocation to states and locations is being based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state health officials, National Academy of Sciences as well as the Catholic Healthcare Association.

The best way to prevent COVID-19 is by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing your hands frequently.

At this time, only those on the allocation list are included in the vaccination group.

No. To receive your first dose 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, 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 or your vaccine site coordinator.

No, you do not need to sign up again. You may wish to contact your vaccine site coordinator to provide notification that you have received the first dose.

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.

The state health departments have decided the order of vaccination with guidance from the CDC. Avera also consulted CHA Guiding Principles, scientific research on vaccine allocation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and Avera workflow/standard of care.

Categories were chosen based on risk of exposure to COVID, i.e. duration of exposure and care offered (aerosol-generating procedures, etc.).

You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection to COVID-19. These side effects may feel like the flu and may even affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

Common side effects include:

• Pain and swelling at the injection site
• Fever
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Headache

Remember, it takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines require two shots and may not protect you until a week or two after the second shot. Get the second shot even if you have side effects after the first one.

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 receiving the second dose.

• If you are COVID-positive, you must isolate for 10 days after symptoms first appear. You may then receive the second dose if your symptoms are improving and you’ve had no fever for 24 hours.
• If you are an asymptomatic positive COVID patient, you must wait 10 days after a positive test to exit isolation and receive your 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.
• You must quarantine for 10 days after exposure. If you remain asymptomatic, you may exit quarantine.
• You may exit quarantine in seven 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 readminister 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.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends COVID-19 vaccines not be withheld from pregnant patients, based on CDC guidance. 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 or should be withheld. The vaccines do not enter your cells and 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 95% effective. For more discussion, pregnant women are encouraged to discuss with their physician.

According to the CDC, mRNA vaccines (the type of vaccine of the current COVID-19 vaccines in the market) 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 the COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility because of the way the vaccine interacts with the body. Both Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA to persuade the body to develop antibodies. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, an mRNA vaccine uses a piece of messenger RNA — a set of instructions that tells a cell to make a specific protein. For SARS-CoV-2, this is the spike protein that is found on the surface of the viral envelope. The mRNA used in the vaccine does not enter the cell’s nucleus and consequently has no interaction with a cell’s DNA. It is also not a full virus and cannot replicate itself. The mRNA is rapidly broken down by the cell once the instructions have been transmitted, so it does not cause mutations or cellular defects, and has not been associated with infertility. Once the spike protein is made, it is put on the surface of the cell, where it is seen by the immune cells and causes them to become activated and respond. The result is the production of neutralizing antibodies. If a person who is immunized becomes infected with the virus, the neutralizing antibodies will bind to the virus and prevent it from entering cells and causing disease.

The recommendation is to not receive another vaccine for 14 days prior to or after the COVID vaccine, as there is not enough data to support it at this time. MRNA is short-lived, and an individual could receive other vaccines later.

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.

The Pfizer vaccine did not receive emergency use authorization for individuals age 15 and younger. The Moderna vaccine did not receive emergency use authorization for individuals 17 and younger.

According to the CDC, you should not get the vaccine if you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic, swelling of the face, mouth or throat) to a previous dose of this vaccine, to any ingredient of this vaccine, to another vaccine, to other subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections.

According to the CDC, this vaccine was developed using mRNA and does not interact with DNA in any way – it is quickly broken down in the cell and never enters the nucleus, and thus won’t cause long-term effects.

The flu shot does not increase your chance of getting COVID-19. It actually decreases your chance of getting sick. A flu vaccine will not protect you from getting COVID-19, but it can prevent you from getting the flu at the same time as COVID-19. This can keep you from having a more severe illness.

Private health insurance companies, as well as government insurance programs like Medicare, will cover the vaccination.

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

Neither the Pfizer nor Moderna vaccine involved the use of fetal cell lines connected to abortions in their design, development or production.