Your AdventHealth Coronavirus Vaccine Resource Hub

Anyone who is 5 years old or older can receive the Pfizer vaccine, and anyone who is 18 years old or older can receive the Moderna or the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Anyone who is 5 years old or older can receive the Pfizer vaccine, and anyone who is 18 years old or older can receive the Moderna or the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Older adults who would like to receive the vaccine should reach out to their doctor so that they can provide personalized recommendations and answer any questions about getting vaccinated.

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.

The vaccine is safe for children ages 5 to 11. The Pfizer dose for young children contains one-third the amount of active ingredient compared to the adult dosage. For best protection, children would receive their second dose 21 days or more after their initial shot

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.

Scientists were very quickly able to sequence the genome of the COVID-19 virus once it emerged, so the research began extremely quickly. But the vaccines were developed under stringent scientific and regulatory guidelines, and the usual rigorous review processes have been followed. We now have both clinical trial and post-EUA safety surveillance data that tells us the three vaccines currently in use in the United States are extremely safe and extremely effective

There’s absolutely no evidence for any connection between the COVID vaccines and fertility – it’s misinformation that’s unfortunately become prevalent on social media. I’d advise women who are interested in one day getting pregnant to take care of themselves and their future health by getting vaccinated.

While these vaccines are new, we know historically that side effects generally happen within six weeks. After millions of COVID-19 vaccinations, no long-term side effects have been detected. Conversely, we do know there can be long-term effects of having COVID-19. “Long-haul” patients can suffer from severe symptoms long after the virus has left their bodies. We can expect to be caring for many of these patients in the years ahead.

Studies suggest that the COVID-19 vaccines do provide protection from the older strains of coronavirus and against delta, gamma, and the emerging omicron strains. While it’s still possible to get infected if you are fully vaccinated, the vaccines dramatically reduce the risk of serious illness caused by the coronavirus variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that fully vaccinated people can resume daily activities without wearing a mask or social distancing except where required by federal, state, local tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations. For example, per federal regulations, masks are still required for fully vaccinated people on public transportation (buses, trains and planes) and in health care facilities, such as hospitals. Additionally, local businesses may still require mask-wearing.

However, since fully vaccinated individuals are also susceptible to the highly contagious omicron variant, it may be wise to mask indoors when amongst people other than immediate family members living in the same household.

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.

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.

All but one of the COVID-19 vaccines require two doses. The first dose starts to build up immunity, and the second dose provides the most protection the vaccine offers. Only receiving the first dose will likely not protect you from getting the virus.

Vaccine immunity will take effect two weeks after you receive your second dose.

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.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, there is a low risk of myocarditis cases in the 12 to 17 age group and the risk could be even lower for younger children who receive the vaccine. We encourage you to reach out to your child's pediatrician as he or she can talk through any questions you may have and provide a personalized recommendation.

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.

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.

At this time the Food and Drug Administration has only recommend emergency use authorization of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11. Children during this age group will receive a lower dose of the vaccine to protect them well against symptomatic infection and potentially cause fewer side-effects.

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.

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.

Yes, you'll want to get the vaccine since re-infection is possible over time. At this time, experts don’t know how long you could be protected after recovering from COVID-19, and getting the vaccine will help prevent re-infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that a booster shot will be needed to prolong the vaccine’s durability and maximize protection from coronavirus. The booster vaccines are available to all adults who received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Boosters are highly recommended for ages 16 and older for additional protection from the Omicron variant.

The Food & Drug Administration recently announced that you can mix-and-match vaccine manufactures after a study found that boosting with a different vaccine is safe and increased antibody levels no matter the combination.

The mix-and-match option of COVID-19 vaccines could potentially offer lifesaving flexibility for individuals to remain protected against the virus. If vaccine supplies were to potentially run low, people could mix their initial dose with another vaccine and still receive immunity to the coronavirus.