COVID-19: What You Need to Know About the Vaccine
When and Where Can I Expect to Get the Vaccine?
We are glad that so many of you are eager to get these safe and effective vaccines. We’re confident that everyone in our communities who wants to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and is eligible (no vaccines have yet been authorized for children under age 16) will be able to.
A Cleveland Clinic team, in collaboration with public health officials and area hospitals in Northeast Ohio and Florida, has been working to get more doses as soon as possible. We’re also making sure they’re stored and distributed according to guidance from the CDC and state authorities.
Although the process might seem to be moving slowly, every person who gets vaccinated is a step in the right direction.
In the meantime, we must all continue taking important precautions to help slow the spread of the virus. This includes wearing a mask, washing and sanitizing your hands frequently, social distancing and limiting gatherings.
Ohio
You’re now eligible to get a vaccine if you’re age 65 and older, or you have one of several severe medical conditions outlined by the Ohio Department of Health criteria.
Getting everyone who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will still take several more months. We know many of you are eagerly awaiting your turn. Thank you for your patience. We’re following state and federal guidelines to give vaccines as quickly and safely as possible as we get them. However, the number of vaccines available is still very limited.
If you’re a Cleveland Clinic patient or Ohio resident who is interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine at one of our vaccination sites, please visit our Ohio vaccination page.
Florida
Cleveland Clinic is working with the Florida Department of Health to provide vaccinations based on established criteria by executive order of Gov. DeSantis.
Due to limited supply and the overwhelming interest in the vaccine, we will be contacting our oldest and most vulnerable patients first. You must be a Florida resident and an established patient who has seen a Cleveland Clinic Florida provider in the last two years for outpatient or inpatient care.
If you're eligible, you'll be contacted via phone calls or MyChart, our free patient portal, to schedule vaccinations. For directions on how to schedule your appointment through MyChart, please visit our Florida vaccination page.
If you aren't contacted immediately even though you're eligible, we ask for patience. As we receive additional vaccine supply, we will be offering appointments to more patients.
What Should I Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine?
The FDA has authorized Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use in the United States.
Both vaccines are given in two doses. It’s important for you to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to get the maximum benefit. For Cleveland Clinic patients, when you schedule your first vaccination appointment, your second dose appointment will be automatically scheduled for you.
Pfizer’s vaccine doses are given 21 days apart. Moderna’s vaccine doses are 28 days apart. But if you can’t schedule your second dose during this timeframe, you do not need to get the first dose again if the second dose is given later. This is because the CDC says there is no maximum time between doses.
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for emergency use in those 16 and older. Moderna’s vaccine is authorized for emergency use in those 18 and older. Researchers have not yet started clinical trials in children under 12. Trials in teens have just recently started. Since a child’s immune system is different from an adult’s, COVID-19 vaccines for younger children, especially, may require different dosage levels or formulations than the adult versions. At this time, we don’t have a clear answer as to when a vaccine will be available for children.
Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
Yes. When the vaccine becomes available to you, we strongly encourage you to get it.
Given the speed of development of these vaccines, it’s understandable that there have been questions about whether or not there’s been enough research and testing to ensure the vaccines are safe. But all vaccines must go through rigorous clinical trials to determine safety and efficacy, with at least two months of patient follow-up, and report their findings to the FDA.
As with many vaccines, you may be sore where it’s injected. You may also develop fatigue, fever and muscle aches afterward. This seems to be more common with the second dose of vaccine. If this happens, it means your immune system is taking notice of the vaccine and reacting.
Should I be concerned about a severe allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine?
No. Allergic reactions, including shortness of breath and hives, were uncommon during COVID-19 vaccine trials. All recipients receiving the vaccine will be monitored for at least 15 minutes after vaccination for possible immediate hypersensitive reactions. If you have a history of allergic reactions to vaccines, talk to your healthcare provider before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
What side effects can I expect from the vaccines?
In the Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials, the vaccines were very effective with only mild side effects that are common in all vaccines. These include fever, fatigue, muscle aches and headache. There were no serious safety concerns.
If I’m pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, can I get immunized?
While pregnant and breastfeeding women weren’t included in the first COVID-19 vaccine trials, safety data is reassuring. Since the vaccines don’t contain the live virus, they aren’t thought to increase risk of infertility, miscarriage during the first or second trimester, stillbirth or birth defects. There’s also no evidence to suggest the vaccine is a risk to a breastfeeding baby. That said, getting the vaccine while trying to conceive, during pregnancy or when you are breastfeeding is a personal choice. We encourage you to talk to your Ob/Gyn to help you make a decision together.
If I've had COVID-19 should I get vaccinated anyway?
We still recommend that you get the vaccine even if you’ve had COVID-19. However, you may consider waiting 90 days after getting infected as it’s not common to get COVID-19 again within three months of first being infected.
Why Should I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine (If I'm Still on the Fence)?
It's the best way to slow this deadly pandemic
We understand that you might be uneasy about getting your COVID-19 vaccine. Maybe you’re not sure what to expect. Or you aren’t sure if it’s right for you.
Here’s why you should consider getting your vaccine:
- To protect yourself: Getting the vaccine means there’s up to a 95% chance that you’ll personally be protected from getting COVID-19.
- To protect those around you: If you get sick, you could spread the virus to others. Getting the vaccine, while continuing to wear a mask and practice social distancing, will help keep your friends and family safe, especially those who may be at risk for a severe case of COVID-19.
- To protect your community: For the vaccine to be effective against COVID-19, we need enough people — 50% to 80% — to get vaccinated. So, even though you may have to wear a mask for a little longer until more people have received it, we know that every person that gets vaccinated is a small step in the right direction.
At the end of the day, we’re confident that this vaccine is the most important public health strategy for slowing the spread of COVID-19, and we strongly encourage you to consider getting it.
