Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

You need to get a COVID-19 vaccine even should you already had COVID-19. No at the moment out there check can reliably decide if you’re protected after being contaminated with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you get well from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 offers added safety to your immune system. Individuals who already had COVID-19 and don’t get vaccinated after their restoration usually tend to get COVID-19 once more than those that get vaccinated after their restoration.

Routine Medical Procedures and Screenings

Most routine medical procedures and screenings will be carried out earlier than or after COVID-19 vaccination. Nonetheless, if you’re due for a mammogram, ask your physician about when it’s best to get a vaccine. Some specialists suggest getting your mammogram earlier than being vaccinated or ready 4 to 6 weeks after getting your shot. Individuals who have obtained a COVID-19 vaccine can have swelling within the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) within the underarm close to the place they obtained the shot. That is extra widespread after booster or extra doses than after the first vaccination collection. It’s potential that this swelling may trigger a false studying on a mammogram.

Speak to your physician when you’ve got any questions or issues about getting vaccinated earlier than or after any routine medical procedures or screenings.

Issues for Taking Treatment earlier than Getting Vaccinated

It’s not beneficial you’re taking over-the-counter medication (akin to ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen) earlier than vaccination for the aim of attempting to forestall vaccine-related negative effects. It’s not identified how these drugs would possibly have an effect on how properly the vaccine works. For those who take these drugs commonly for different causes, it’s best to preserve taking them earlier than you get vaccinated. Additionally it is not beneficial to take antihistamines earlier than getting a COVID-19 vaccine to attempt to forestall allergic reactions.

Be taught extra about drugs to alleviate post-vaccination negative effects.

For most individuals, it’s not beneficial to keep away from, discontinue, or delay drugs that you’re routinely taking for prevention or therapy of different medical situations across the time of COVID-19 vaccination.

If you’re taking drugs that suppress the immune system, it’s best to discuss to your healthcare supplier about what’s at the moment identified and never identified concerning the effectiveness of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Ask about the most effective timing for receiving a vaccine. Be taught extra about COVID-19 vaccines for reasonably to severely immunocompromised folks.

Most individuals who take treatment can get a COVID-19 vaccine. Taking one of many following drugs will not be, by itself, a cause to keep away from getting your COVID-19 vaccination:

• Over-the-counter drugs (non-prescription)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) (naproxen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and so forth.)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol, and so forth.)
• Biologics or biologic response modifiers that deal with autoimmune illnesses
• Chemotherapy or different most cancers therapy drugs
• Antiviral treatment
• Antibiotics
• Statins
• Blood stress drugs/antihypertensives (amlodipine, lisinopril, and so forth.)
• Diuretics
• Thyroid drugs
• Antidepressants
• Metformin
• Diabetic drugs
• Insulin
• Steroids (prednisone, and so forth.)

This isn’t a whole listing. It’s meant to supply some examples of widespread drugs. Taking any of those drugs is not going to make COVID-19 vaccination dangerous or harmful.

When you’ve got questions on drugs that you’re taking, discuss to your healthcare skilled or your vaccination supplier.

On the Vaccination Website

Earlier than you arrive, contact the positioning the place you may be vaccinated or overview your appointment affirmation e mail for particulars about your vaccination appointment.

• When getting a vaccine, you or your baby and your healthcare supplier might want to put on masks that cowl your nostril and mouth. Keep 6 ft away from others whereas inside and in strains. Be taught extra about defending your self when going to get your COVID-19 vaccine.
• You need to obtain a paper or digital model of a truth sheet that tells you extra concerning the particular COVID-19 vaccine you or your baby obtained. Every authorized and licensed COVID-19 vaccine has its personal truth sheet that comprises info that will help you perceive the dangers and advantages of receiving that particular vaccine. Be taught extra about totally different COVID-19 vaccines.
• After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, you or your baby must be monitored on website for at the very least quarter-hour. Be taught extra about COVID-19 vaccines and uncommon extreme allergic reactions. ​

Watch Video: What to Anticipate at Your COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment [00:00:48]

Individuals Who Ought to Wait to Get Vaccinated

People who find themselves in quarantine

If you’re not vaccinated and have been uncovered to somebody with COVID-19, it’s best to wait till your quarantine is over to keep away from getting others sick whilst you get your vaccine. Nonetheless, you might be able to get a vaccine whereas in quarantine should you

• Are in danger for a number of exposures (like residing in shared housing),
• Don’t have any signs of COVID-19, and
• Take precautions to forestall spreading COVID-19.

People who find themselves in isolation

For those who at the moment have COVID-19, it’s best to wait to get your vaccine till

• Your signs are gone (should you had signs) and
• Standards to discontinue isolation have been met.

Individuals who have had multisystem inflammatory syndrome

For those who or your baby have a historical past of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults or youngsters (MIS-A or MIS-C), contemplate delaying vaccination till

• You may have recovered from being sick and
• It has been 90 days because the date of analysis of MIS-A or MIS-C.

Be taught extra concerning the scientific issues for folks with a historical past of MIS-A or MIS-C.

Speak to your physician if you’re not sure what remedies you obtained or when you’ve got extra questions on getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

For those who have been handled for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma whereas sick with COVID-19, you do not want to attend earlier than getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

play circle mild iconWatch Video: Use v-safe to inform CDC the way you’re feeling after COVID-19 vaccination [00:00:34]

Your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card

On the first vaccination appointment, you’re going to get a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination card that tells you which of them COVID-19 vaccine you or your baby obtained, the date you or your baby obtained it, and the place you or your baby obtained it.

• Maintain this CDC COVID-19 vaccination card for future use. Contemplate taking an image of the cardboard after your or your baby’s vaccination appointment as a backup copy.

Be taught extra about getting a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination card.

Getting Further Photographs

For those who obtained an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine), you want a second shot of the identical vaccine to finish the first collection. You need to get your second shot even when you’ve got negative effects after the primary shot, until a vaccine supplier or your physician tells you to not get it.

It takes time for the physique to construct safety after any vaccination. Most individuals are thought-about absolutely vaccinated 2 weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Many people who find themselves reasonably or severely immunocompromised might have a further (third) dose to finish their main vaccine collection. Be taught extra about COVID-19 vaccines for people who find themselves reasonably or severely compromised.

Study COVID-19 vaccine booster pictures.

Booster Shot

Everybody ages 12 years and older ought to get a booster after finishing their main collection to be able to keep updated on their COVID-19 vaccines. A booster shot enhances or restores safety towards COVID-19, which can have decreased over time.

Be taught when you find yourself eligible for a booster.