Latest Tips You Need to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccines are at the top of all our minds lately. At Care Indeed, we answer questions daily about the vaccines. As healthcare professionals, we want to help you and your loved ones navigate the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine and provide you with useful answers to your questions.

Dee Bustos and Vanessa Valerio, founders of Care Indeed and nurses themselves, both recently received their vaccines. Here is a video clip from their vaccination experiences.

COVID-19 Vaccine Open to All Ages 16 and Older April 15th

On April 1st, vaccines became available to all adults in California ages 50 and over. COVID-19 vaccines will be open to all California adults ages 16 and older in the Bay area beginning April 15th. Register for the vaccine in the county you reside in.

The COVID-19 vaccines offer the Bay area community positive momentum and promising results to enable us to continue to reopen and resume our active lives. At Care Indeed, we always place the health and well-being of our patients, clients, their families, and caregivers first, and getting vaccinated is a powerful way to protect friends, family, loved ones, our senior population, and our entire community.

We want the Bay area safe, healthy, and open. Getting vaccinated is necessary to lower the severity of COVID-19 and expedite the recovery process.  As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to diminish, the state is making plans to retire the tiered reopening plan that has been in place these past months.

The CDC announced travelers who have completed the entire vaccine regimen can travel within the US without quarantine restrictions. Following all safety protocols is still recommended. This includes hand washing, wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and physical distancing.

The Bay area is already seeing the positive impact of the vaccines as California announces that, effective April 15, indoor receptions, theater performances, concerts, sports venues, and conferences will reopen with some specific guidelines.

Residents who are completely COVID-19 vaccinated will be able to sit together, situation permitting. Event attendance numbers will depend upon the county’s current category within the economic recovery tier system.

Larger capacity events are allowed with guest lists, purchased tickets, and assigned seating, along with proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event.  The restrictions on outdoor gatherings have been greatly reduced. As more and more residents are vaccinated, California can continue to open up.

COVID-19 Vaccine: What to Expect

It’s normal to feel apprehensive about receiving the vaccine. Will it hurt? Are there side effects? Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about the vaccine.

If you received a flu shot, you know what it feels like. You can expect the COVID-19 vaccine injection to feel similar. A sharp jab in your arm as the needle enters may feel uncomfortable.

Once the vaccine has been administered, you will need to wait between 15 to 30 minutes before leaving. This is to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction, which is very rare.

Depending on what type of COVID-19 vaccine you received, you will probably need a second shot. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require two injections. The second injection will be 3 weeks after the first dose of Pfizer/BioNTech, and 28 days after the first Moderna injection. You are not fully vaccinated until one week after you receive the second shot.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which may be difficult to find in stock currently, only requires one shot. Check the recommendations for the vaccine you are receiving.

According to the CDC, when you are fully vaccinated you are far less likely to spread or to get COVID-19. Remember, you are not fully protected from COVID-19 until you have completed the entire vaccination process. You must get the second dose of the vaccine.

Even once vaccinated, you should continue to:

1. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
2. Physical distance 6 feet apart from others (think two arms’ lengths apart)
3. Avoid crowds
4. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer

Who Should Not Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

If you are wondering if you should get the COVID-19 vaccine, you should, except in rare cases. You cannot get the vaccine while currently ill. If you have any questions, contact your healthcare provider.

You will not be eligible for vaccination if you had a severe reaction to the first dose of the vaccine. Ask your doctor for guidance if you carry an EPI pen for allergic reactions, are immunocompromised, or have experienced severe allergic reactions to other types of vaccines.

COVID-19 Vaccine for Anyone Who Tested COVID Positive

Get the COVID-19 vaccine, even if you’ve already tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered. You cannot get the vaccine while currently ill with COVID-19.

Even patients who already had COVID-19 should get vaccinated. The vaccine provides the best immune response and will probably provide protection against mutations of the virus. It also provides additional protection if you are exposed to COVID-19 again.

Side Effects after Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine does have side effects much like other vaccines. In general, the side effects are mild and only last a couple of days.

Common side effects include headaches, fatigue, discomfort in the area you received the injection, and general aches and pains. You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen, if necessary, to manage any side effects. Placing a cold compress over the injection site should reduce discomfort in that area.

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety

The FDA and advisory panels carefully evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccines before the FDA grants approval. New technologies and better international scientific collaboration enabled faster creation of the vaccines, but there were no shortcuts to safety protocols and testing.

Protect Yourself, Protect Your Community

All of us at Care Indeed want to encourage you to get your COVID-19 vaccination. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have shown they are 94% effective after completing the full vaccine regimen.

After being vaccinated, patients who test COVID-19 positive have much milder symptoms. The vaccine not only protects you, but it also helps everyone by lowering the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. The more of us that are vaccinated, the more protection we provide for our entire community, including our vulnerable senior population.