COVID Vaccine Q & A

COVID Vaccine- The following information has been taken from the CDC website and is our current recommendation as of 5/26/2021.

What are the new guidelines for gatherings if I am vaccinated?

– People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks following their second dose of vaccine.
– Fully vaccinated individuals can refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if they are asymptomatic. Individuals still need to monitor for symptoms 14 days after exposure and test if symptoms develop.
– Testing is recommended for anyone experiencing COVID symptoms even if they are fully vaccinated.
– Fully vaccinated people may gather indoors without masks for gatherings (medium to large-sized gatherings and those including unvaccinated people from multiple households have increased risk of transmission. Social distancing and mask wearing should still be enforced)
– Fully vaccinated grandparents can visit indoors with their unvaccinated healthy daughter/son and their healthy children without wearing masks provided none of the unvaccinated family members are at risk of severe COVID-19 (we would consider infants under the age of 2 months to be high risk).

What vaccines are currently available for my child?

– Pfizer >12 years
– Moderna >18 years
– Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) > 18 years

What are the dosing intervals for the current approved vaccinations?

– 3 weeks for Pfizer, 1 month for Moderna. There is no second dose for Johnson & Johnson.
– There is a grace period of 4 days earlier than the recommended date if necessary.
– The second vaccine may be administered up to 6 weeks after the first dose if unable to schedule on time.

Can I get the COVID vaccine with other vaccinations?

– Yes, it is now shown to be safe to give the COVID vaccine with other vaccines.

What if I had a previous COVID infection or recently tested positive?

– COVID vaccines can be given safely to people with evidence of prior COVID infection.
– Vaccination of people with current COVID infection should be deferred until the person has recovered from acute illness.

What if I have another chronic medical condition?

– COVID vaccines are not live vaccines and can be given to immunocompromised people.
– Advised to complete COVID vaccine 2 weeks before starting immunosuppressive therapy.
– People with autoimmune conditions may receive the vaccine.
– People with a history of Guillain-Barre may receive the vaccine.

Who cannot get the vaccine? What allergies prevent me from getting the vaccine?

– Severe allergic reaction to the previous dose or components of the COVID vaccine
– People with egg, latex and gelatin allergies MAY receive the vaccine.
– People with delayed-onset local reaction (erythema, induration, pruritis) around the injection site after the first vaccine DO NOT have a contraindication to the second dose.

Can I give or take fever or pain reducing medication before or after the vaccine?

– Antipyretics or analgesic medication may be taken after for treatment of symptoms.
– Giving these medications prior to the vaccine is not recommended. We are unsure if this will impact the antibody response.

How does getting the vaccine effect further testing for COVID infection?

– Prior receipt of the COVID vaccine will not affect the results of COVID viral testing (antigen and PCR).

Can I breastfeed after getting the COVID vaccine?

– Because previous non-live vaccines pose no risk for lactation people and their infants, COVID vaccines are not thought to be a risk although data is limited.
– The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine does not recommend cessation of breastfeeding when mothers are given the COVID vaccine.
– Antibodies and T-cells stimulated by the vaccine may passively transfer into milk and protect the infant from infection. With other vaccines, these antibodies are detectable in milk within 5-7 days.

Can I get the vaccine if I am pregnant?

– The data for pregnancy and the COVID vaccine is still limited but similar vaccines showed no adverse pregnancy-related outcomes.
– Based on current knowledge, we believe that COVID vaccines are unlikely to pose a risk to pregnant person or fetus.
– Pregnant individuals are encouraged to talk with their OB provider to determine if the vaccination is the right choice for them.

Will our office be offering the vaccine?

– At this time, we are not able to administer the COVID vaccine. We do recommend the vaccine for all eligible patients; visit podvaccine.azdhs.gov to schedule an appointment. As younger ages are approved, we will continue to reassess if it is feasible for our office to stock and administer.