Inova COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Information (2023)

A person is up to date on the COVID-19 vaccine after receiving their first booster dose. A second booster dose is not currently required to be considered current. The FDA and CDC recently approved a second booster shot for people with compromised immune systems and older than 50 years. If you have any questions about a second booster dose, ask your doctor.

That's according to the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Everyone over the age of 12 should receive booster shots.. This recommendation applies to anyone who has received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.

Vaccines against COVID-19 are still very effective in preventing serious illness and keeping you out of the hospital, but since the initial protection from the first few doses can wear off over time, boosting is key. your protection issignificantly reinforced by a third dose - the booster— and can not only reduce your risk of serious illness, hospitalization, or death, but also relieve your symptoms when you're infected.

• whoappropriateyou should only receive a booster shot after full vaccination. Those who completed a primary series (ie, a two-dose mRNA series or a single dose of J&J vaccine) are considered fully vaccinated ≥ 2 weeks after completing the primary series.
• For those who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in their first series, booster shots are available for those eligible at least 5 months after their second dose.
• For those who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are available for those eligible at least two months after their first dose. The CDC provides the most up-to-date informationtitled groupsfor a drink.

Recommended vaccination schedule

*An 8-week interval may be optimal for some individuals 12 years and older, particularly men 12-39 years, to reduce the risk of vaccine-associated myocarditis. A shorter interval (3 weeks for Pfizer; 4 weeks for Moderna) between the first and second doses remains the recommended interval for people with moderate or severe immunodeficiency, adults 65 years of age or older, and others who need rapid protection due to the biggest concerns of the community. transmission or risk of serious disease.

• You can choose which COVID-19 vaccine you get as a booster. Some people may prefer the type of vaccine they originally received and others may prefer a different booster shot.CDC recommendations now allow this type of combined dosing for booster shots..
• Mixed products can be considered for that.booster dose only.
• If you have questions about which booster shot is right for you, talk to your doctor to help you weigh the risks and benefits of each option.

According to the CDC,booster vaccinationit is given when a person has completed their vaccination course and protection against the virus has diminished over time.extra cansThey are given to people with moderately to severely weakened immune systems.

PDF downloads:

• Fast facts on the COVID-19 vaccine
• Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine

Since December 2019, when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread throughout the world. To date, more than 25 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths have been reported in the United States (and counting). For comparison, the mortality rate (number of people who have an illness and then die from the illness) is 3.1% for COVID-19, while it is only 0.1% for the flu.

Of course, many more people survive than die from COVID-19 infection, but there are other health problems that can develop with or after COVID-19 infection, including heart, lung, brain, and nerve problems. , kidney lesions and whole body inflammatory syndromes. They occur in both adults and children. There are also longer-term issues that we are just beginning to address, including ongoing post-COVID-19 symptoms.

While there are still many unknowns about COVID-19, we have learned a lot in the year since the pandemic began, developing new treatments and now vaccines to combat COVID-19.

In December 2020, the FDA approved two emergency vaccines. The first doses made by Pfizer-BIONTECH were introduced to hospitals on December 14, 2020. Since then, Inova has distributed more than 100,000 vaccines to healthcare workers in the Washington, DC area and will now help vaccinate the local community according to TheCDC Guidelines.

Despite this success, some people may still have questions about how to get vaccinated. We understand that people need to be protected to stop the rapid spread of this infection. The best protection against infection is vaccination. It is estimated that around 80% of the human population will need protection to stop the pandemic.

Many people still have questions about the vaccine, including questions about the vaccine's development, its safety and efficacy, side effects, and how it affects people with certain health conditions. Below, we answer many of these questions and provide links to resources for more information. If you have any questions, it's best to ask your GP.

The COVID-19 vaccine will help protect you from getting sick and will most likely limit your ability to spread the virus. This will also help protect those around you (your family, friends, and neighbors) who may not be able to get vaccinated because of their age or certain health conditions.

Only people with a history of severe allergic reactions (eg, anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccine should not receive the vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about vaccination. For women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, the CDC says there is no reason why women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not get vaccinated.

Please read the following information carefully and discuss this with your doctor if you are unsure:

Vaccination advice for pregnant or lactating women(CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION)

Vaccinate pregnant and lactating patients against COVID-19(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

No, you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccine does not use the virus like the flu shot does. It helps your body build its own defenses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus by using a synthetic form of the virus's spike protein code called messenger RNA (mRNA).

The mRNA prepares your immune system to recognize and respond to the virus's spike protein. It teaches your immune system to recognize the virus as "foreign" and fight to block its spread. It uses mRNA to start the process and remembers the spike protein of the virus so it can start fighting it quickly. The mRNA does not change anything in your cells.

The vaccine does not affect virus tests (PCR or antigen-based nasal/oral swabs) used to diagnose COVID-19. Tests that are not used to diagnose active COVID-19 disease, such as B. Antibody tests in your blood, some of which will be positive.

The current vaccination procedure requires two injections to ensure that you can successfully fight the virus. There may be some immunity after the first injection, but you need the second to achieve a high level of protection. After your second vaccination, the immune system will be fully activated to fight the virus a week or two later.

Remember, until your immune system is fully activated (has enough information to fight SARS-CoV2 infection), which is after your second dose of the vaccine, you can still get COVID-19. The more people get vaccinated, the faster we can achieve herd immunity (meaning 80% of people are vaccinated against COVID-19) and get back to "normal", but until then we must still wear a mask, wash holding hands frequently and socializing. distancing us even after our second shot.

No. Research on the use of mRNA in a vaccine has been conducted since the 1990s.

The vaccines administered at Inova have been tested in more than 70,000 people around the world. Then everyone who gets the vaccine is monitored so any problems can be addressed immediately. Inova has experienced minimal side effects with the 100,000+ doses we have administered to date.

A person vaccinated in Virginia can visitimpfen.virginia.govto get your free vaccination card with QR code, which can then be saved to a phone gallery, printed on paper, or saved to a compatible account. If you cannot access your records through theFind your self-service vaccination card portal, this could be because additional information needs to be added to your profile, e.g. a phone number. If you experience this problem, please contact the Virginia Immunization Information System Help Desk at877-VAX-IN-VA(877-829-4682) Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm for assistance. We apologize, Inova cannot correct this.

• Modern
• Pfizer-BioNTech

What to expect after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine (CDC).

Most reported side effects (injection site pain, mild headache, body aches, low-grade fever, or chills) were mild to moderate, occurred approximately 12 to 24 hours after injection, and did not last more than seven days (most are only for 24-48 hours). The second dose often causes more of these symptoms, so it is recommended that you plan your work schedule around your second dose so that you can consider taking it the day after you receive your second dose of the vaccine.

Remember that there is nothing wrong if you develop side effects, it just means that your immune system is working well. If you do not develop any side effects, it does not mean that your immune system is not working, it just means that our bodies will react differently when we receive the vaccine.

Anyone receiving the vaccine must registerV-safe, a program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to track side effects. V-Safe will text you every day for about a week after you get your shot to check on you. If the answers you send to V-safe are concerning, a CDC representative will call you with further questions. If you experience mild side effects, you can take the medicines you normally take when you have a headache or body ache, such as B. Ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can also contact your GP who can help you with any questions you may have.

It is important to realize that there is shortness of breath, coughing, loss of taste, and loss of smell.noSide effects of vaccination and should prompt a call to your doctor.

These can be similar in that both can be associated with fever, muscle pain, headache, and fatigue. Side effects from the vaccine are usually mild and last 36 hours or less. However, if you are concerned and/or your symptoms persist, contact your GP for advice on next steps.

Vaccines do not cause a sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of taste/smell. If you develop any of these symptoms and are concerned about a possible COVID-19 infection, you should talk to your doctor.

Taking prophylactic medications such as Advil or Tylenol to prevent symptoms is not recommended due to a lack of information on the effect of the antibody response. However, you can take these medicines after vaccination to treat post-vaccination symptoms if they occur.

About 10 days after the first vaccination, you will have some immunity.This is not enough to protect you from contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.but you may experience milder illness. People over the age of 65 may have less protection than younger people during the interval between the first and second vaccination. It is important that you receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and, for the time being, you must continue to demonstrate safety precautions such as mandatory masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene to protect yourself and others who have not been or have not been may be vaccinated due to their age or medical condition.

Yes. The vaccine is intended to prevent symptomatic and severe illness.

It is important that you receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and that you try to receive the second dose within the window you were told when you first got vaccinated. However, it should not be a concern if you are a few days late with your second vaccination. It is important to receive the entire series of vaccines to provide protection against COVID-19. Currently, one dose of the vaccine is not enough to provide complete protection.

Vaccines currently protect against new variants of the virus (mutants). The virus is expected to change as viruses do, so it's best to get vaccinated when it's your turn. To prevent the coronavirus from mutating, we must prevent it from infecting people, and the best way to do this is by getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Preparing for your child's vaccination

Pain Management Tools

View All Fairfax Co. Public School VaxUP Videos for Kids

Watch all the videos for children in Spanish

Download and read our COVID-19 Vaccine Parents Guide for quick facts, tips on helping children through vaccination, and pain management strategies and tools.

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• Your child's poke plan
• me foundation
• hack the vax
• Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines
• COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Form for Children 5-11 Years

Yes. The data we have seen gives us confidence that the vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children and adolescents are safe. The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in people 5 years and older.

The safety of the vaccine was studied in approximately 3,100 children 5 to 11 years of age who received the vaccine and no serious side effects were identified in the ongoing study.

On very rare occasions, people have had allergic reactions to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (estimated at less than 2-4 people per million). This reaction can be treated. For more information, seeCDC guidance.

Commonly reported side effects in the clinical study included pain at the injection site (arm pain), redness, and swelling. Fatigue and headache have been reported to be the most common whole body side effects. Muscle and/or joint pain, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, and decreased appetite have been observed less frequently in children 5 to 11 years of age.

More children reported side effects after the second dose than after the first dose. Side effects were generally mild to moderate, occurred within two days of vaccination, and most resolved within one to two days. Side effects appear to occur less frequently in children 5 to 11 years of age than in older children/adolescents and young adults.

No cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were identified in clinical studies in children 5 to 11 years of age.

Yes. The immune responses of children 5 to 11 years of age were comparable to those of people 16 to 25 years of age. Additionally, the vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5-11.

Pfizer's vaccine is given in two doses, with the second dose given about three weeks after the first.

Vaccination does not cost you money. A vaccine administration fee may be charged to your insurance company. Inova will not charge you directly for this.

There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine, or any vaccine, affects fertility. Women undergoing fertility treatment or planning to become pregnant should be vaccinated if they are eligible. Since the vaccine is not a live virus, there is no reason to delay pregnancy attempts because of the vaccine, or to delay treatment until after the second dose has been given.

No. People with COVID-19 can receive the vaccine when they feel better and meet the criteria to end isolation. Read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on when to be with others after COVID-19. For more information, seeCDC guidance.

Yes. Your child should get vaccinated even if they already have COVID-19. Although COVID-19 may provide some protection against recurrence, we don't know how long that protection will last.

Inova's certified pediatric specialists are an essential part of making the vaccination experience as bold and painless as possible. We have pain management tools in place, such as Buzzy and Shotblocker, to reduce vaccination-related discomfort. We also have videos on our website and social media to help you prepare your child for the best experience possible. When you arrive to sign in, please let the staff know if your child needs a quiet place or an additional distraction. You can also contact the Child Life Unit if you have specific questions about how to get the best vaccine experience possible.

Additional materials for parents

Yes. The CDC recommends that people diagnosed with MIS-C or MIS-A recover from their illness, wait at least 90 days, and regain normal heart function before receiving their COVID-19 vaccines.

Yes. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended that people who would otherwise not comply with routine vaccinations can receive COVID-19 vaccines at the same time or within 14 days of other routine vaccinations.

For children 5 to 11 years of age who will receive 2 or more vaccinations in a single extremity, the lateral thigh muscle (vastus lateralis muscle) is the preferred site.

No. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years of age is administered as a primary series of two doses 3 weeks apart, but is lower (10 micrograms) than that for people 12 years and older ( 30 micrograms).

No. The vaccination dose is not based on the weight but on the age of your child.

Your 11-year-old son can now receive the first vaccine in the 10 microgram dose. If they then turn 12 before the second dose, they have the option of receiving a second dose of the same dose (10 micrograms) 3 weeks later, or the 12-year dose (30 micrograms).

Of note, the 10 microgram dose was studied early in adults and showed a good antibody response in non-elderly adults.

Pregnancy is considered a high-risk health condition. Pregnant women with COVID-19 are at increased risk of preterm birth and may be at increased risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with pregnant women without COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone 12 years and older, including those who are pregnant, nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant in the future. There is increasing evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. These data suggest that the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 outweigh any known or potential risks of getting vaccinated during pregnancy. A COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from serious illnesses caused by COVID-19.

Women undergoing fertility treatment or planning pregnancy are encouraged to get vaccinated if they are eligible. Since the vaccine is not a live virus, there is no reason to delay pregnancy attempts because of the vaccine, or to delay treatment until after the second dose has been given. There is currently no evidence that vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men.

Evidence for the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy is growing, albeit limited. These data suggest that the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 outweigh any known or potential risks of getting vaccinated during pregnancy. Vaccines with many viruses and in all trimesters of pregnancy have been studied. In these studies, no pregnancy-related adverse outcomes, including adverse outcomes to the baby, were associated with vaccination.

If you are pregnant, you may want to talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Such a discussion may be helpful but is not necessary prior to vaccination. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine from your healthcare provider without any additional paperwork.

Professional medical organizations that specialize in the treatment and care of pregnant people, like the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, join CDC in encouraging pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID -19 if they allow it.

Yes, it is safe to receive the vaccine before surgery. If the timing of the procedure is flexible, it is recommended that the procedure be performed at least 3 days, but no later than one week after the vaccine dose. This guidance is provided so that any symptoms, such as fever, can be correctly attributed to side effects of the vaccine or the surgery/procedure itself.

No, the vaccine will not affect your procedure and proper COVID-19 precautions will continue to be taken regardless of vaccination status. Vaccine components must not interfere with anesthesia or medication used in connection with your surgery.

We do not recommend postponing the vaccination unless it is not possible to receive it due to the timing of the procedure or expected recovery from the procedure. Talk to your surgeon for more information. However, as mentioned above, it would be advisable to allow at least 3 days between the date of surgery and the date of vaccination, so that any symptoms that may occur, such as fever, can be attributed to the surgery or vaccination.

Inova currently requires a COVID-19 test prior to some surgeries and procedures. We will continue this requirement until we know more about asymptomatic post-vaccination spread.

If you have already been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 90 days, you do not need another COVID-19 test before your scheduled surgery.

The timing of elective surgery after recovery from COVID-19 uses categories based on both symptoms and severity. The recommended waiting times from the date of diagnosis of COVID-19 until surgery are as follows:

• 4 weeks for an asymptomatic patient or recovery of only mild non-respiratory symptoms
• 6 weeks for a symptomatic patient (eg, cough, dyspnea) who did not require hospitalization
• 8-10 weeks for a symptomatic patient who is diabetic, immunocompromised, or hospitalized for COVID-19 infection
• 12 weeks for a patient admitted to an intensive care unit due to COVID-19 infection

These deadlines should not be considered final; Preoperative risk assessment for each patient must be individualized, taking into account the intensity of the operation, the patient's comorbidities, and the risk-benefit ratio of further delaying the operation.

Residual symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain are common in patients who have had COVID-19. These symptoms may be present for more than 60 days after diagnosis. Also, COVID-19 can have long-term effects. Talk to your doctor about a preoperative exam.

No. Vaccination status does not affect whether or not your surgery/procedure is performed.

Surgery or a procedure is not part of the criteria used to prioritize patients for the vaccine. However, we recommend that everyone get vaccinated as soon as it is their turn.

Per CDC guidelines, we encourage patients with active cancer to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Active cancer refers to any cancer patient being treated or diagnosed within the past year. This can be given during chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Yes. Northern Virginia has been in Phase 1b distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine since January 14. This now includes anyone age 65 and older, or anyone age 16-64 with a high-risk condition, such as cancer.

To successfully complete the vaccination process, people who received their first dose of Inova should expect to receive their second dose at their scheduled follow-up visit. Inova is currently working with local health authorities to obtain supplies and vaccinate appropriate populations. Updates to our offer and eligibility will be made on this page; Please check back periodically.

Latest Inova Vaccine Information

All vaccines can cause temporary swelling of the lymph nodes, which is a sign that the body is building up immunity and producing antibodies as intended. In some rare cases reports of lymphadenopathy; Swollen lymph nodes can develop in the arm and neck area 2-4 days after vaccination against COVID-19. This can take an average of 10 days. This temporary swelling can affect mammography and breast ultrasound readings. Therefore, it is important that you provide an accurate medical history at your breast imaging appointment, including vaccination status, timing, and the side (left or right arm) of vaccination.

If possible, we recommend scheduling routine screening mammograms before your first COVID-19 vaccine or no later than 14 days after vaccination (1st or 2nd dose). However, if you have any breast symptoms, you shouldn't delay getting a mammogram or breast ultrasound.