Everyone 6 Months and Older Should Get a COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination has many benefits and is an important tool to help protect you from severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Even if you or your child have had COVID-19, you should still get yourself or your child vaccinated.

• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after having COVID-19 provides added protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.
• People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery.
• If you were given monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma while sick with COVID-19 you do not need to wait to get vaccinated.

Before the Vaccination

If you do not regularly take over-the-counter medications, you should not take them before you get a COVID-19 vaccination.

It is not known how over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen, might affect how well the vaccine works. You may be able to take these types of medications to reduce fever or pain after you get your vaccine to relieve any pain or discomfort resulting from possible side effects.

Get a COVID-19 vaccine with your routine medical procedures and screenings

You can combine most procedures, screenings, and vaccinations at the same appointment when you get your COVID-19 vaccination. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions.

Children, teens, and adults may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same time.

Preparing children and teens for vaccination

If you are getting your child or teen vaccinated learn how you can support them and talk to them about what to expect. The experience of getting a COVID-19 vaccine will be very similar to that of getting routine vaccines.

Requesting accommodations at COVID-19 vaccination sites

• When making an appointment or arriving for vaccination, you can let staff and/or volunteers know you or your child might need some accommodations.
• People with disabilities can use the COVID-19 Vaccine Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) to get help with COVID-19 vaccinations.

If you have allergies related to vaccines

Talk to your doctor if you:

• have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose to learn if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine,
• are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG) and you should not get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine,
• are allergic to polysorbate and you should not get Novavax or J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
• if you are allergic to other types of vaccines or injectable medications for other diseases.

• If you had an immediate allergic reaction (a reaction that started within 4 hours of getting vaccinated) to a COVID-19 vaccine, but the reaction was not considered severe by a medical professional, you can receive another dose of the same vaccine under certain conditions. Your doctor may refer you to an allergy and immunology specialist for more care or advice.
• If you have had an immediate allergic reaction—even if it was not severe—to a vaccine or injectable therapy for another disease, you should discuss this with your doctor to determine which COVID-19 vaccine is best for you.

If you have allergies not related to vaccines

You should get vaccinated if you have allergies that are not related to vaccines or injectable medications such as food, pet, venom, environmental, or latex allergies. People with a history of allergies to medications taken by mouth or a family history of severe allergic reactions can also get vaccinated.

At the Vaccination Site

• You should receive a paper or electronic version of a fact sheet that tells you more about the COVID-19 vaccine you or your child received. Each approved and authorized COVID-19 vaccine has its own fact sheet that contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of that vaccine.
• There is no charge for your COVID-19 vaccine. Your COVID-19 vaccine is free. COVID-19 vaccines are paid for with taxpayer dollars and are given free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of health insurance or immigration status. If anyone asks you to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine, it’s a scam.

After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

• Stay on site to be monitored for at least 15 minutes.
• Make sure your vaccination provider updates your vaccination card (or gives you one if this is your first dose).
• Stay up to date with the recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
• You may experience side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Adverse effects (serious safety problems) and severe allergic reactions are rare.
• To report any side effects, you can sign up for v-safe. V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that provides quick and confidential health check-ins via text messages and web surveys so you can quickly and easily share with CDC how you or your dependent feel after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Watch Video: Use v-safe to tell CDC how you’re feeling after COVID-19 vaccination [00:00:34]

Your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card

Keep your CDC COVID-19 vaccination card for proof of vaccination. Consider taking a picture of your card after each of your COVID-19 vaccination appointments as a backup copy.

• Bring your card to your appointment whenever you get a primary series dose or booster so that your provider can fill in information about your shot.
• If your vaccine card is full, your vaccine provider can give you another card.
• If you did not receive a CDC COVID-19 vaccination card at your first appointment, contact the vaccination provider site where you got your first shot to find out how you can get a vaccination card. You can also contact your state health department to get a copy of your vaccination record.
• Some vaccination providers and health departments may offer you access to a QR code or digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccination card in addition to giving you a physical CDC COVID-19 vaccination card. Contact your vaccination provider or local health department to learn if a digital copy of your card is available to you.
• If you were vaccinated abroad there are ways you can update your U.S. vaccination record.
• To report suspicious activity involving fake CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards, please visit Fraud Alert: COVID-19 Scams or call 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html.

What You Need To Know

• In addition to following the recommended COVID-19 vaccination schedule, tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld), a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, should be administered to people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised every 6 months for pre-exposure prophylaxis to supplement vaccine protection. Per the product EUA, Evusheld can be given at least 2 weeks after COVID-19 vaccine. People may initiate Evusheld at any time after this interval, including between doses in the primary series and between any primary and booster doses.
• This medication can provide protection for those not expected to mount an adequate immune response following vaccination, including those who are immunocompromised due to a medical condition or immunosuppressive medication, or for those individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended due to a history of severe adverse reaction to COVID-19 vaccination.
• Evusheld is administered by intramuscular injection by a healthcare provider at an office or healthcare facility.
• Current locations of EVUSHELD distribution can be found here.

The current treatment guidelines [5.4 MB, 456 pages] on the use of Evusheld as pre-exposure prophylaxis:

• Tixagevimab 300 mg plus cilgavimab 300 mg (Evusheld) administered as two 3-mL intramuscular (IM) injections for adults and adolescents (aged ≥12 years and weighing ≥40 kg) who do not have SARS-CoV-2 infection, who have not been recently exposed to an individual with SARS-CoV-2 infection AND who:
  • Are moderately to severely immunocompromised or
  • Are not able to be fully vaccinated with any available COVID-19 vaccines due to history of severe adverse reactions
• Tixagevimab plus cilgavimab should be repeated every 6 months.
• Individuals who received tixagevimab 150 mg plus cilgavimab 150 mg should be given a second dose as soon as possible.
  • If the initial dose was administered ≤3 months prior, the second dose should be tixagevimab 150 mg plus cilgavimab 150 mg.
  • If the initial dose was administered >3 months prior, the second dose should be tixagevimab 300 mg plus cilgavimab 300 mg.
• Individuals should be clinically monitored after injections and observed for at least 1 hour.
• Evusheld is contraindicated in individuals with previous severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to Evusheld.
• There is not currently sufficient evidence to recommend either for or against the use of SARS-CoV-2 serologic testing to assess for immunity or guide clinical decisions about using Evusheld for pre-exposure prophylaxis. For more information, see NIH’s COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines.

Evusheld and timing with COVID-19 vaccination

• Evusheld may be given at least 2 weeks after any COVID-19 vaccine.
• After this interval, Evusheld may be initiated at any time between primary series and booster doses.
• COVID-19 vaccines may be administered at any time after Evusheld administration.
• Use of monoclonal antibodies is not a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/pre-exposure-prophylaxis.html.

• Updated guidance reflects new recommendations for isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19.
• Removed Assessment for Duration of Isolation and Key Findings From Transmission Literature sections so page provides most current information.

Key Points

• People who are infected but asymptomatic or people with mild COVID-19 should isolate through at least day 5 (day 0 is the day symptoms appeared or the date the specimen was collected for the positive test for people who are asymptomatic). They should wear a mask through day 10. A test-based strategy may be used to remove a mask sooner.
• People with moderate or severe COVID-19 should isolate through at least day 10. Those with severe COVID-19 may remain infectious beyond 10 days and may need to extend isolation for up to 20 days.
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should isolate through at least day 20. Use of serial testing and consultation with an infectious disease specialist is recommended in these patients prior to ending isolation.

Recommendation for Ending Isolation

For people who are mildly ill with SARS-COV-2 infection and not moderately or severely immunocompromised:

• Isolation can be discontinued at least 5 days after symptom onset (day 0 is the day symptoms appeared, and day 1 is the next full day thereafter) if fever has resolved for at least 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medications) and other symptoms are improving.
• Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​.
• A high-quality mask should be worn around others at home and in public through day 10. A test-based strategy may be used to remove a mask sooner.
• If symptoms recur or worsen, the isolation period should restart at day 0.
• People who cannot wear a mask, including children < 2 years of age and people of any age with certain disabilities, should isolate for 10 days.
• In certain high-risk congregate settings that have high risk of secondary transmission, CDC recommends a 10-day isolation period for residents.

For people who test positive, are asymptomatic (never develop symptoms) and not moderately or severely immunocompromised:

• Isolation can be discontinued at least 5 days after the first positive viral test (day 0 is the date the specimen was collected for the positive test, and day 1 is the next full day thereafter).
• A high-quality mask should be worn around others at home and in public through day 10. A test-based strategy may be used to remove a mask sooner.
• If a person develops symptoms within 10 days of testing positive, their 5-day isolation period should start over (day 0 changes to the first day of symptoms).
• People who cannot wear a mask, including children < 2 years of age and people of any age with certain disabilities, should isolate for 10 days.
• In certain high-risk congregate settings that have high risk of secondary transmission, CDC recommends a 10-day isolation period for residents.

For people who are moderately ill and not moderately or severely immunocompromised:

• Isolation and precautions can be discontinued 10 days after symptom onset (day 0 is the day symptoms appeared, and day 1 is the next full day thereafter).

For people who are severely ill and not moderately or severely immunocompromised:

• Isolation should continue for at least 10 days after symptom onset (day 0 is the day symptoms appeared, and day 1 is the next full day thereafter).
• Some people with severe illness (e.g., requiring hospitalization, intensive care, or ventilation support) may remain infectious beyond 10 days. This may warrant extending the duration of isolation and precautions for up to 20 days after symptom onset (with day 0 being the day symptoms appeared) and after resolution of fever for at least 24 hours (without the taking fever-reducing medications) and improvement of other symptoms.
• Serial testing prior to ending isolation can be considered in consultation with infectious disease experts.

For people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised (regardless of COVID-19 symptoms or severity):

• Moderately or severely immunocompromised patients may remain infectious beyond 20 days. For these people, CDC recommends an isolation period of at least 20 days, and ending isolation in conjunction with serial testing and consultation with an infectious disease specialist to determine the appropriate duration of isolation and precautions.
• The criteria for serial testing to end isolation are:
  • Results are negative from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected ≥ 24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens) tested using an antigen test or nucleic acid amplification test.
  • Also, if a moderately or severely immunocompromised patient with COVID-19 was symptomatic, there should be resolution of fever for at least 24 hours (without the taking fever-reducing medication) and improvement of other symptoms. Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​.
  • Re-testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection is suggested if symptoms worsen or return after ending isolation and precautions.
• If a patient has persistently positive nucleic acid amplification tests beyond 30 days, additional testing could include molecular studies (e.g., genomic sequencing) or viral culture, in consultation with an infectious disease specialist.
• For the purposes of this guidance, moderate to severely immunocompromising conditions include, but might not be limited to, those defined in the interim clinical considerations for people with moderate to severe immunocompromise due to a medical condition or receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments.
  • Other factors, such as end-stage renal disease, likely pose a lower degree of immunocompromise, and there might not be a need to follow the recommendations for those with moderate to severe immunocompromise.
  • Ultimately, the degree of immunocompromise for the patient is determined by the treating provider, and preventive actions should be tailored to each patient and situation.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html.

Boyd Nursing and Rehabilitation is pleased to share our newest success story of Ms. Helen Davis!

Ms. Davis came to Boyd Nursing for rehab in August following a recent hospital stay leaving her with mobility and self-care deficits.  Over the past month, Helen has cooperatively and diligently completed an individualized rehab program of strength and balance training, gait training, and self-care training to regain her functional independence to return home. We are pleased to announce that Helen has completed her rehabilitation stay and fulfilled her goal of returning home! She was welcomed home by her canine friend, Precious. Helen says “Therapy did me well. My hip no longer hurts and I am getting around good. I look forward to taking walks with my dog again but I will miss walking around the courtyard at Boyd looking at the flowers and watching the turtles.” Ms. Davis, we here at Boyd Nursing are happy to have been part of your successful recovery and glad to see you reunited with your dog Precious. We wish you the very best!  

Effective September 1^st, 2022, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and from Moderna for people ages 18 years and older.

Updated COVID-19 boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading.

In the coming weeks, CDC also expects to recommend updated COVID-19 boosters for other pediatric groups, per the discussion and evaluation of the data by ACIP on Sept. 1, 2022. When data are available and FDA authorizes these other types of COVID-19 boosters, CDC will quickly move to help make them available in the United States.

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of updated COVID-19 boosters, and CDC’s recommendation for use, are critical next steps forward in our country’s vaccination program—a program that has helped provide increased protection against COVID-19 disease and death.

The following is attributable to Dr. Walensky:

“The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variant. They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants. This recommendation followed a comprehensive scientific evaluation and robust scientific discussion. If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID-19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it.”

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0901-covid-19-booster.html