Your AdventHealth Coronavirus Vaccine Resource Hub

The first round of available vaccines are being distributed according to the CDC’s recommendations. This means they will first given to health care workers and first responders, who are at the highest risk for exposure to the virus.

Health care personnel who may be vaccinated include people serving in a clinical setting with direct patient contact. This includes physicians, nurses, dentists, and other community providers.

The current administration of vaccines is being delivered based on CDC and state government guidelines. For more information about when the vaccine will be available to the public, we encourage you to sign up for email alerts at www.CoronavirusVaccineAlerts.com.

AdventHealth has been tapped by the state of Florida as one of the first sites to store and administer the new COVID-19 vaccine – or vaccines – as they come online for use. Stay tuned to this page as details come available in the weeks and months ahead, as we're committed to remaining a trusted resource for our community.

Most COVID-19 vaccines require two shots but one particular vaccination will require one shot. We recommend reaching out directly to your provider as he/she will be able to provide you with more information about when vaccines will be available in your area and which vaccine will be available to you.

The vaccine has been determined to be safe according to federal guidelines and review by our internal Scientific Committee. Vaccine safety is determined based on when a patient experiences a negative effect after receiving the dose. If there are too many or severe effects during the trial, the vaccine is terminated. By the time a vaccine reaches consumers, the risk of a negative outcome is very low.

There's only a small amount of experience in the clinical trials of the vaccines regarding its use in pregnant or nursing mothers. However, the American Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology has endorsed use of the vaccine in these situations. If you have questions, we recommend contacting your provider directly so he/she can better answer this question based on your medical history.

While the approved COVID-19 vaccines have been determined to be effective by federal guidelines, there's no way to guarantee someone will not contract the virus. Just like it's not guaranteed you won't get the flu after receiving the flu shot, the same is true for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Those who have already had COVID-19 may not have long lasting immunity from the virus and therefore should receive the vaccine. However, we encourage speaking with your physician, as he or she can provide you with a personalized recommendation.

While you're waiting for the vaccine to become available for your group, we recommend following CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus. You can do this by continuing to cover your mouth and nose and wearing a mask when around others. Avoid close contact with those who develop symptoms, practice social distancing, and continue washing your hands often. Read more tips about protecting yourself here.

You're right that there are multiple COVID-19 vaccines. While efficacy varies slightly, each has been determined to be safe through the testing process. To learn more about which vaccines are available in your area and which might be best for you, we recommend calling your physician. He or she can talk through any questions you may have and provide a personalized recommendation.

mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine that protect against infectious diseases. Because they can be made in a lab using readily available materials, scientists can use a standardized process to develop these vaccines more quickly than with traditional methods.

The vaccine does not use a live virus. Instead, some coronavirus vaccine candidates essentially work by using synthetic mRNA to direct the body to produce a small amount of the spike protein. Once the vaccinated person’s immune system detects this protein, their body begins producing protective antibodies to defend against coronavirus. You can learn more about mRNA vaccines here.

Some people have reported mild side effects after receiving the vaccine like irritation at the injection site, headaches, fever and chills. However, these symptoms usually go away on their own within a week of receiving the vaccine. Learn more about the safety and side effects of the coronavirus vaccine.

Most people do not have serious reactions after receiving the vaccine. Some people, however, experience mild side effects like irritation at the injection site, headache, fever or chills. These side effects are a sign that your body is doing what it's supposed to do, working to build up protection from the virus. The FDA and CDC will continue to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, to make sure even very rare side effects are identified.

At first, COVID-19 vaccines may not be recommended for children. However, the groups recommended to receive the vaccines could change in the future. We recommend looking out for news from your local Department of Health for a trial that could include children.

Right now, there aren't any available vaccines that will completely prevent COVID-19. However, much like the flu shot, the upcoming coronavirus vaccines will help reduce your risk of contracting the virus in the event of exposure.

At this time, the CDC does not have an official recommendation for those who have already had COVID-19. At AdventHealth, we encourage speaking with your physician, as he or she can provide you with a personalized recommendation.