FAQs About COVID-19 Vaccines And Immunization Day Prep

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Making Health Care Clinics More Comfortable For Your Kids

A few months ago, I started thinking about the fact that I hadn't taken my kids to the doctor in a long time. I realized that I was late on a few of my son's checkups, so I made him an appointment with our family doctor. Unfortunately, since my son didn't know the doctor, he was pretty uncomfortable during the appointment. I had to figure out how to make my son comfortable and happy during the visit, which was a real challenge. This blog is all about making health care clinics as comfortable and happy as possible. Check out these articles to find out more.

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FAQs About COVID-19 Vaccines And Immunization Day Prep

28 December 2021
 Categories: , Blog

What do you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine before you get your first shot? Maybe you are ready to schedule an immunization appointment, but you are not sure if you really need this shot or how to prepare. Take a look at the top questions about COVID-19 vaccines that can help you to understand whether you should get this immunization right now and how to prepare for your clinic visit.

Can You Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Now?

Most adults can get one of the three currently approved COVID-19 shots. Adults ages 18 and up can choose from the two double-dose mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) or the single-dose Johnson and Johnson shot, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also notes that children ages 5-17 can only get the the two-dose Pfizer mRNA vaccine. Anyone (adult or child) who has had an allergic reaction to one of the vaccines or a component of the vaccine should not get this immunization.

Should You Get the Vaccine If You Have Already Had COVID-19?

If you currently have COVID-19, then you need to wait to get the vaccine. Talk to your medical provider about when you can safely get vaccinated. You will need to wait until your quarantine period is over to avoid exposing anyone in the healthcare or vaccination clinic.

Even though having the illness will provide you with some natural protection, it is still unclear how long the antibodies last. Vaccination can help to reduce the risks of a repeat infection.

How Should You Prepare for the Vaccination Appointment?

Now that you know whether you can get vaccinated or not, it is time to prepare for your appointment. You should not take over-the-counter medications before your vaccination to reduce the risks of potential side effects, according to the CDC. Some OTC medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can reduce fever or aches after your vaccination. But you should wait until after you get your shot to take these medications to ease or reduce side effects.

There is no way to tell whether you will feel perfectly fine after a vaccination or develop some after-effects. If you have concerns about fatigue, headache, body aches, or pain in the injection site, then you should plan to take the rest of the day (and possibly the next day) off from work. This will give you time to rest, relax, and recharge.