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COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID vaccine will be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance, and the cost of the vaccine will be covered for people who are uninsured.Vaccine safety is a priority. All COVID-19 vaccines must go through a rigorous and multi-step testing and approval process before they can be used. They will only be approved if they pass safety and effectiveness standards. Vaccines will also be monitored for safety once they are given.Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants persist. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic. One variant of concern is the Delta variant, which seems to spread more easily and faster than other variants, leading to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths. Fully vaccinated individuals are protected from this variant. We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible.A safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a critical component of the U.S. strategy to reduce COVID-19-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. For more info, see IDPH's COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs.
The second dose of Moderna Vaccine should be at least 28 days after your first dose and the second dose of Pfizer Vaccine should be at least 21 days after the first, but there is no maximum interval between both doses.
If you received your first dose at CUPHD and are overdue for your second dose, please call 217-531-4538 or email coronavirus@c-uphd.org to schedule an appointment.
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy
Most people in the United States are planning to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but some may want more information before seeking vaccination. They may want to know more about COVID-19 vaccines, including the process for developing and authorizing these vaccines and information about their safety and effectiveness. People may also have previous experiences that affect their trust and confidence in the health system, which could affect their decision to get vaccinated.
By taking time to listen to their concerns and answer their questions, you can help people become confident in their decision to get vaccinated. Also, when you decide to get vaccinated and share the reasons why you did, you can have a powerful influence on your family and community. Strong confidence in the vaccines within communities leads to more people getting vaccinated, which leads to fewer COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.
2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. When choosing safer activities, consider how COVID-19 is spreading in our community, the number of people participating in the activity, and the location of the activity. Outdoor visits and activities are safer than indoor activities.
If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find a vaccine.
If you’ve been fully vaccinated:
You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
All individuals, including those who are fully vaccinated, shall be required to wear a face covering consistent with CDC guidance, including (1) on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation and in transportation hubs such as airports and train and bus stations; (2) in congregate facilities such as correctional facilities and homeless shelters; and (3) in healthcare settings.
If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.
Accessing Vaccine Records
If you were vaccinated in Illinois, you can request a copy of your State of Illinois immunization record be sent to you directly from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Complete this form and email it to the address listed at the top of the document. A fax number is not required. IDPH will send you documentation which is an official State of Illinois record.
How COVID Vaccines Work
Facts About COVID-19 Vaccination
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What are the most common side effects of the vaccine?
After getting vaccinated, you might have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea throughout the rest of the body. These side effects could affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.
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Can I get vaccinated if I currently have covid-19?
No. People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation. Those without symptoms need to wait until they have been released from isolation before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine.
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How long will the vaccine protect me from COVID-19? Will this be an annual vaccination, like the flu?
We are still learning about length of immunity. To determine how long protection lasts, follow-up studies are required to detect levels of both types of immune responses – antibody and T cell – as well as any repeated exposure risks. As more information becomes available, more information will be shared on the length of immunity.
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Can I get more than one type of vaccine?
No. Current CDC guidance states that the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccines are not interchangeable. You should not get more than one type of coronavirus vaccine, and you should not mix the two-dose vaccines.
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What is the difference among the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines?
The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are mRNA vaccines that use tiny parts called messenger RNA (mRNA) carried in very tiny lipid particles. The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines differ in the way the mRNA is built or the way the lipids are used. The two vaccines are also stored in different ways, but each requires two doses.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a vector vaccine, which places genetic material from the COVID-19 virus inside a weakened version of the adenovirus that cannot cause illness. Adenoviruses are very common viruses that usually cause colds. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires a single dose.
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How much will this vaccine cost me? Is it covered by my insurance?
There is no cost for the vaccine. However, vaccination providers can charge an administration fee for giving the shot that is reimbursed by the patient's public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. No one can be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay a vaccine administration fee.
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Which vaccines are approved for what ages?
The three Covid-19 vaccines that currently have Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in different age groups. Both the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines are approved for those 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for those 12 and older.
