The most usual question we get in our office is “Should older adults get the COVID-19 vaccine?” The answer is “YES”! It is very important to get vaccinated, especially the older adults, because they are at the highest risk of being very sick or even dying from the CORONAVIRUS.
In New York, at this time (Mid-March, 2021), the vaccine is available to specific groups of people. All people over 60 years old are eligible to get the vaccine. The plan is to start vaccination of all other people who do not belong to particular groups in Spring 2021.
For a list of all eligible groups, go to nyc.gov/covidvaccinedistribution.
How to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine in New York?
Visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder to find a vaccination site and make an appointment. Appointments are required at all locations. You can also call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) to make an appointment at an NYC site.
Do I need to prepare for my COVID-19 Vaccine appointment?
First, go to https://forms.ny.gov/s3/vaccine and complete the New York State (NYS) COVID-19 Vaccine Form. Make sure you bring proof of your age if you are getting a vaccine based on your age. If you are eligible based on your line of work, bring proof of employment. Finally, you do not need any documents from your Doctor if you are getting the vaccine based on your underlying medical condition.
If you need more information on forms and acceptable proof of eligibility, please visit nyc.gov/covidvaccine.
In the end, any vaccine that passes the approval process has been thoroughly tested and shown to be both successful and secure. You should be confident that regardless of which shot you get, your experience will be identical.
You’ll be given a card or fact sheet at your vaccination site that will explain the vaccine and help you understand the details. The information on your card will tell you what you need to know.
Does vaccination cost money?
Getting vaccinated should not be expensive. Insurance companies will cover the vaccination, and the US government has set up a fund to cover expenses for those who do not have coverage. Vaccine doses purchased by the US government will be distributed free of charge to the general public; however, vaccine services will be allowed to charge an administration fee for administering the shot. This fee can be covered by the patient’s public or private insurance company or by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund for uninsured patients.
COVID-19 vaccines currently on the United States market are highly effective at preventing the disease.
Two of these vaccines are administered in two shots, one at a time and different intervals. The second Moderna vaccine shot should be administered 28 days after the first, and the second Pfizer vaccine shot should be administered 21 days after the first. If you’ve been told you’ll need two shots, make sure you have them both. Since vaccines are not interchangeable, the Doctor or pharmacist can work with you to ensure that you have the same form of vaccine with both shots if necessary. Just one shot is needed for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. According to the CDC, individuals do not need to show proof of United States Citizenship to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you already got the vaccine, you probably wonder what is next? Can you go back to the regular lifestyle? The answer is very complicated.
We have had COVID-19 as a pandemic for more than a year now. And there are some facts that we should all take into consideration about life after the vaccine.
If you are getting a vaccine that requires two doses, make sure you get all two at the time when specified.
While the first shot will provide some protection, it will not give the same degree of protection as a full dose.
According to research, the vaccine doesn’t start protecting you until two weeks after you get it. Even though you had your vaccine and are eager to throw a party, don’t wear a mask and forget about social distancing, hand washing, and all that rule. You should still follow some mitigation rules. There are few reasons why.
Even though vaccines provide a high degree of safety, there’s still a risk you might contract COVID, notably if you’ve only recently received the vaccine. More importantly, you can be able to become a secret spreader. Before we know for sure, there’s a risk that a vaccinated individual might contract COVID and spread it without showing any symptoms. Although we’re pretty confident that vaccinated people are a lot less likely to catch it and spread it, it’s better to keep wearing masks and practicing social distancing before we know for sure and.
You’ve probably learned about the COVID-19 variants spreading throughout the United States, primarily those that were first opened in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa. All these COVID-19 variants are thought to be more infectious and fatal than the traditional type. This is exactly why we need to keep washing our hands, wearing masks, and social distance. Companies that developed the vaccine are currently working on creating booster injections that should help to fight the COVID-19 variants.
When can we return to everyday life?
Unfortunately, right now very hard to prognoses the date or the year when we will be able to walk in the store without the mask or when people stop looking at you and running away from you if you sneeze. Some experts predict that normal life will return by April when others indicate that it will be closer to the end of the 2021 year or the beginning of 2022.
Considering that, you should get the vaccine as quickly as possible if you can. You’ll also help prevent new strains since the disease can’t mutate until it spreads. Finally, even though you still have to wear a mask, getting vaccinated will restore some semblance of normalcy.
The pandemic affected everyone, and it’s common to feel helpless. It’s important to focus on the good and seek support if you’re experiencing emotional difficulties. We’re approaching the finish line, and if we keep this up, we’ll be able to regain our sense of stability as a country!