Get the Facts Folks

1. Why should I get vaccinated if I might get COVID anyway?

COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Compared to people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, unvaccinated people are more likely to get COVID-19, much more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, and much more likely to die from COVID-19.

2. What if I’m pregnant, should I get the COVID vaccine?

Yes, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant now, as well as people who might become pregnant in the future. People who get a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy are more likely to deliver a preterm (born earlier than 37 weeks of pregnancy) or stillborn infant and may also be more likely to have other pregnancy complications.

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy helps:

*Prevent severe illness and death in people who are pregnant

*Protect babies younger than 6 months old from hospitalization caused by COVID-19

3. Do I need to wait after getting a flu vaccine or another vaccine before getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

There is no recommended waiting period between getting a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit.

4. If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, should I get a vaccine?

You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19. You may consider delaying your vaccine by three (3) months.

However, certain factors could be reasons to get a vaccine sooner rather than later, such as:

Personal risk of severe disease
Risk of disease in a loved one or close contact
Local COVID-19 hospital admission level
The most common COVID-19 variant currently causing illness.

5. If I had the COVID vaccine at the beginning of the year, should I get another one?

Yes, in September of 2023, an updated COVID vaccine received emergency use authorization. The updated vaccine was made to target the variants that are currently circulating that are an offshoot of the Omicron variant.

6. What are the possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

The most common side effect is pain at the injection site. Others include redness, swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain.