Who Can I Get Vaccinated?
Vaccinations for Kids – Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is authorized by the FDA for kids aged 12 and up. It was found to be safe and effective in protecting children as young as 12 in clinical trials.
COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19. It takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to build immunity against the virus. That means it is possible you could still get COVID-19 just after vaccination.
What We Know
- Vaccinations can prevent nearly all COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths. Post-vaccination cases are extremely rare.
- Vaccinations reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- COVID-19 vaccines are effective against variants of the virus currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant.
- People with weakened immune systems, including those who take immunosuppressive medications, may not be protected even if fully vaccinated.
But additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines are now available for those with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This includes people who:
- Get active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Got an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Got a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Get active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress immune response
Talk to your doctor to see if getting an additional dose is right for you. If you meet these criteria, you can book your third dose at My Turn.
Get more information at: https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/#How-to-get-vaccinated
Vaccines and the Delta Variant
Delta variant data recently obtained by the CDC and reported in The Washington Post on July 29 show that the delta variant is more highly contagious, may cause more severe disease, and suggests that vaccinated people who get infected may spread it as easily as unvaccinated people. Vaccines remain highly effective at preventing severe disease (10x reduction), but less effective at preventing mild or asymptomatic infection with the delta variant (3-5x reduction).
Substantial evidence shows that the delta variant is about twice as infectious as the original variant, which makes the reopening extra risky for unvaccinated people. A study of viral loads in delta infections found viral loads to be 1,000x higher than the original variant. This study from the CDC also demonstrates that the delta variant infects kids and unvaccinated people at higher rates in recreational settings, especially indoors, such as in this gymnastics facility where 20% at the gym were infected and 53% of household contacts became infected.
A CDC study on a July 2021 outbreak in Massachusetts found that viral loads of delta infection in vaccinated people were similar to viral loads among unvaccinated people, and other studies showed that the viral loads in infected vaccinated people reduce more quickly (PCR cycle times >30 in 9 days rather than 18 days). Taken altogether, these studies suggest that vaccinated people are less likely to be infected with the delta variant (3-5x reduction), and when they are infected, they have much milder illness and are infectious for fewer days.
Universal masking and distancing are crucial for reducing spread given current inadequate vaccine coverage. We need to continue to outreach to people to increase vaccination rates to reduce serious illness and death. We will also likely need to learn to live with the virus over the long run and aim to reduce serious illness and death through vaccinations.
Read more about the new variant data and studies here:
https://www.ebgtz.org/update/covid-19/
10 Things the Fully Vaccinated Need to Know
Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do post-vaccination, according to health experts
- You still need to wear a mask
- You could still catch COVID-1
- You could infect someone else
- You can visit friends and family
- You don’t have to quarantine after exposure
- You should keep your vaccine record card handy
- Travel is still discouraged
- It’s a good time to go to the doctor or dentist
- You may need a booster shot
- A return to normal hinges on herd immunity
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs
What is in the Vaccine?
The two COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States do not contain eggs, preservatives, or latex. For a full list of ingredients, please see each vaccine’s Fact Sheet: Here
Who is Paying for the Vaccine?
Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost. However, vaccination providers can charge an administration fee for giving someone the shot. No one can be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay the vaccine administration fee.
How Safe is the Vaccine?
All the COVID-19 vaccines being used have gone through rigorous studies to ensure they are as safe as possible. Systems that allow CDC to watch for safety issues are in place across the entire country.
Is it Safe if I Have an Underlying Condition?
Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.