Phase 1B_FAQs_1.12 - Ochsner Lafayette General



FAQS – Vaccine Phase 1B, Tier 1Who can get the vaccine?Effective Monday, February 22, COVID-19 vaccines have been expanded in Phase 1B to include: Persons 65 and olderDialysis providers and patientsAmbulatory and outpatient providers and staffProfessional home care providers (including hospice workers) and home care recipients (including older and younger people with disabilities over the age of 16 who receive community or home-based care, as well as clients of home health agencies)American Sign Language (ASL) and foreign language interpreters and Support Service Providers (SSPs) working in community and clinic-based settings, and clients who are both deaf and blindHealth-related support personnel (lab staff, mortuary staff who have contact with corpses, pharmacy staff)Schools of allied health students, residents and staffLaw enforcement and other first respondersLouisiana Unified Command GroupState and local essential COVID emergency response personnelSome elections staff ahead of March and April electionsTeachers and any other support staff working on site in K-12 or daycareAll pregnant personsIndividuals ages 55-64 with at least one of the conditions listed by the CDC as placing them at an “increased risk of severe?illness from the virus that causes COVID-19”.?Persons with?the following?qualifying underlying medical conditions?are advised to?complete the?Louisiana COVID-19 Vaccine Attestation Form, before their appointment, to receive the vaccine:We encourage you to visit the Louisiana Department of Health website at covidvaccine. for available vaccine locations across the state and a full list of eligible criteria. We are now offering scheduling for new first dose appointments this week in limited quantities, on a first come, first served basis at select locations.Those who are eligible will be required to attest that they meet criteria and provide proof if asked. In addition, during registration, signature will be required on the state form for criteria confirmation.How can I schedule?We are now offering scheduling for new first dose appointments in limited quantities on a first-come, first-served basis for those who meet the eligibility criteria. An appointment, made by visiting mycovidvaccine, is required to receive a vaccination. Those without an appointment will be turned away.You may also call 1-855-206-9675 to schedule an appointment.Patients who have already received their first dose will receive their second dose as scheduled. This appointment must remain on the schedule as previously scheduled and should not be moved to a different day, time or location.We appreciate your willingness to be part of the solution to end this pandemic.I am 55, but do not have one of the underlying medical conditions listed on the state website. Can I get vaccinated?We are committed to upholding the state’s tiered structure and are hopeful that the vaccine will be available to more members of the public soon. We encourage community members and patients to sign up for our vaccine update emails at vaccine or covidvaccine. for the latest information and resources.We look forward, under the guidance of the CDC, state and LDH, to the day when we can offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all members of our community.I meet the eligible criteria and take aspirin daily as part of my health regimen prescribed by my doctor. I read that you shouldn’t take Tylenol, aspirin or ibuprofen prior to receiving the vaccine. Does that mean I can’t receive the vaccine?We recommend that people continue their routine medications as prescribed by their physician which may include aspirin, ibuprofen?(Advil, Motrin) and?naproxen?(Aleve, Naprosyn), also known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Patients who have one of the CDC-listed underlying medical conditions and are prescribed NSAID by their physicians, are not excluded and are encouraged to receive the vaccine. Are there other places I can receive the COVID-19 vaccine?Yes! Each week, the Louisiana Department of Health sends a limited supply of vaccines to pharmacies across the state. Patients should contact a participating location to make an appointment or to be added to the waiting list. An appointment is required. A full list of participating pharmacies can be found at ldh.covidvaccine-locations What if I don’t have an appointment, can I still get the vaccine? You must have a scheduled appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Why? Due to the complex storage and limited time constraints with the COVID-19 vaccine, we want to ensure we are efficiently utilizing the vaccine to avoid any waste.Those who meet the eligible criteria must have a scheduled appointment at the designated location to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A full list of the criteria can be found at covidvaccine..I don’t fall into the current eligibility requirements. When will I get my vaccine?We are committed to upholding the state’s tiered structure and are hopeful that the vaccine will be available to more members of the public soon. We look forward, under the guidance of the CDC, state and LDH, to the day when we can offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all members of our community.We encourage community members and patients to visit vaccine or ldh.coronavirus for the latest information and resources.Is the vaccine safe for my age group? Following guidelines from the FDA emergency use authorization (EUA), no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine as there are no medical contraindications except for a severe allergic reaction to this vaccine or any of its components. Because the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, we will schedule the second dose at the same location with the appropriate length of time (19-23 days) between visits. You must be able to attend the second appointment in order to schedule the first.I’m an Ochsner patient and live in a different state. Can I still receive the vaccine since I met the criteria?Thank you for your inquiry regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Current Louisiana vaccine guidelines?state that vaccinations are available for adults ages 65 and older, patients who are on dialysis, patients receiving home health,? ambulatory healthcare workers including? pre hospital emergency medical personnel (EMS) and fire personnel, and schools of allied health employees and faculty, regardless of which state they live in. We encourage you to check your state’s department of health website for vaccine eligibility criteria, as it may be different than Louisiana. How long will the vaccine last?Since this is a novel, or new, virus, we are still unsure how long the vaccine antibodies will last. We are closely monitoring the research as more data becomes available.What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?Like the flu shot, the vaccine is administered into a large muscle in the upper arm or thigh. As is the case with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur. Some may experience mild fever, soreness, muscle aches, headaches, chills, fatigue/ tiredness, muscle or joint pain, redness and/or swelling at the site of administration. These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and expected in some patients.Based on data reported from the FDA emergency use authorization (EUA), possible side effects have been more prominent after the second dose.If you have pain or discomfort, you can take your normal pain reliever or talk to your pharmacist about taking an over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot, you can apply a clean, cool compress over the area. To reduce discomfort from fever, drink plenty of fluids.What happens if I feel ill after receiving the vaccine?While extreme serious reactions to the vaccine are rare, you should seek medical care if:you experience a severe allergic reaction call 911 or go to the nearest emergency roomthe redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hoursyour side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few daysIf you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.Report side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Reporting instructions are included in Fact Sheet you received when you got your vaccine.Will I still have to mask and social distance after I get the shot?Yes. Remember, it takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines that require two shots may not protect you until at least a week after your second shot.It’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real- world conditions.Until we reach herd immunity and the majority of the United States has been vaccinated, we will need to continue to practice social distancing, handwashing and wearing masks. These are the best ways to reduce your chance of being exposed to or spreading the virus until we end this pandemic.If I’m exposed to COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine, do I still need to quarantine?Fully vaccinated individuals (2 weeks after last vaccine) do not need to quarantine following an exposure.Until we reach herd immunity, and the majority of the United States has been vaccinated, we will need to continue to practice social distancing, handwashing and wearing masks. These are the best ways to reduce your chance of being exposed to or spreading the virus until we end this pandemic.I received my first dose and heard vaccine supply is extremely limited. Will I still be able to receive my second dose?Patients who have received their first dose are GUARANTEED their second dose regardless of date and should keep their vaccine appointments. This appointment must remain as previously scheduled.Second doses are given at the same location a person receives their first dose and the appointment for the second dose will be made during the appointment for the first dose.Can I get routine vaccinations (flu, tetanus, shingles, pneumonia, etc) with my COVID-19 vaccine?It is generally recommended to avoid scheduling “routine” immunizations 14 days before or after your scheduled COVID-19 vaccination.?If other vaccines are administered, there is no need to alter the COVID-19 immunization schedule or repeat any of the immunizations. If I’m currently ill with COVID, should I get the vaccine?If you currently have COVID-19, you need to follow the CDC isolation recommendations prior to leaving your home and should also have recovered from COVID-19 prior to receiving a vaccine. It is acceptable to delay vaccination for 90 days as immunity to COVID-19 lasts at least that long. Following guidelines from the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine, even patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as there are no medical contraindications except for a severe allergic reaction to this vaccine or any of its components.If I contract COVID-19 between my first and second dose of the vaccine, should I delay my second dose?If you currently have COVID-19, you need to follow the CDC isolation recommendations prior to leaving your home and should also have recovered from COVID-19 prior to receiving a vaccine. If you need to reschedule your second dose of the vaccine, it should be done after you’ve recovered and at the end of your isolation period (at least 10 days after infection). You can wait up to 42 days to receive your second dose.How much does the COVID-19 vaccine cost?COVID-19 vaccines are free. While we remain in the pandemic, the federal government has ensured that vaccines are made available to those in need without cost to the individual. A provider cannot ask a patient for payment, though they can bill insurance for a vaccine administration fee or the federal government if a person is uninsured. A provider may also not bill for a regular office visit to administer the vaccine.How do I get my vaccine record?Once you have received your second dose, we will give you a card indicating that you have completed the COVID-19 immunization. If you lose your card, there are a number of ways to receive record of your vaccine. Within 24 hours of receiving your vaccine, your vaccination record is uploaded to LINKS which is the state vaccination registry. Your primary care doctor can pull this documentation from the LINKS site for you. You can also access it via Apple Health if you have your medical record synced to it. ................
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