You can find helpful information, tools, and resources about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines at TeenVaxFacts.com.
There are many ways to get your family vaccinated together. Most vaccine providers will let you sign up for vaccine appointments. You can schedule appointments for all members of your family. Many vaccine providers also offer walk-in vaccinations. People in a family can show up together for these walk-in clinics. Because the dose and brand of COVID-19 vaccine you get may be different depending on each family member’s age, it is important to make sure the provider you choose has the right ones available. Babies and toddlers ages 6 months through 2 years cannot be vaccinated by a pharmacist. They can get their vaccine only at a doctor’s office or local health center where the correct dose for their age is available. All children are encouraged to get the vaccine from their health care provider, as the vaccine may be given with other routine childhood vaccines or regular checkups that help to keep them healthy. Parents and guardians of children who do not have an established health care provider can visit MySpot.nc.gov to search for a nearby vaccine provider. They are also encouraged to contact their local health department. Parental consent is required. Many places in North Carolina offer COVID-19 vaccines specifically for children and their families. Visit MySpot.nc.gov for more information about how vaccines work and where you can find an appointment near you. You can also call the NC COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567 to help you make an appointment. It is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Many places will let you schedule vaccine appointments on the weekends or in the evenings. Many places also allow walk-ins. You may have temporary side effects after getting vaccinated. This could include a sore arm, fever, or feeling tired or achy for a day or two. This can be normal and shows that the vaccine is working to give your body protection against COVID-19. NCDHHS is encouraging employers to give employees paid time off to get a vaccine or to rest if they have temporary side effects. If you don’t have paid time off or find it difficult to miss work, we encourage getting vaccinated right before a day off.
Yes, there are several free transportation options to get vaccinated:
People who have limited mobility can be vaccinated against COVID-19 in their home. To find a vaccine provider in your area who can give the vaccine to people in their home, call the At-Home Vaccination Hotline at 1-866-303-0026. You can also fill out a registration form. More information on at-home vaccination..
You are up to date on your vaccines when you have been given all of the vaccines and boosters that are recommended for you based on your age and current health. People in this group will get a total of four shots. They are also up to date after they get their second (additional) shot if they can’t get their booster yet. People in this group should get their first booster two months after their second shot. They should get their second booster at least four months after their first booster.
According to the CDC, if you have a weakened immune system, you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death. Additionally, your immune response to COVID-19 vaccination may not be as strong as in people who are not immunocompromised. People 6 months and older receive three doses of vaccine for their primary series. The timing and need for additional or booster doses depend on a person’s age and which vaccine they received. Get detailed information on COVID-19 vaccines for people with compromised immune systems on the CDC’s website.
It is important to stay up to date on your vaccines by getting the boosters recommended for you based on your age and current health condition when you are able. During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated. They were also seven times less likely to be hospitalized. People who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get the Pfizer or Moderna booster if they can. Boosters are recommended for everyone 5 years and older to strengthen their protection against COVID-19. The risk of severe COVID-19 is higher for people who have other health conditions. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are important, especially if you are older or have a lot of severe health conditions. You should get a booster if: People ages 5 to 17 years old should only get the Pfizer booster after receiving the Pfizer vaccine series; children and teens under 18 who get the Moderna vaccine should not receive any booster at this time. Adults 18 and older should get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their booster. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only available to adults who are allergic to the other vaccines, can't access the other vaccines, or who would not get vaccinated or boosted if they are unable to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A booster is needed sooner if you have a compromised immune system. People who are over 50 years should also get a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Adults who get the Novavax vaccine should not get any booster at this time, no matter their age. People who are 12 years or older and have a moderately or severely compromised immune system should also get a second booster, depending on their age and the vaccine they get. These second boosters should be given at least four months after the first. People who were recently sick with COVID-19 may wait to get their first or second booster shot for three months after symptoms or after testing positive if they didn’t have symptoms. Studies have shown that a longer time between infection and vaccination may improve your body’s immune response to the vaccine. Also, a low risk of reinfection has been seen in the weeks to months following infection. Adults ages 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both their first vaccine and booster can also choose to get a second booster of either Pfizer or Moderna, but this isn’t required to be considered up to date. You may find COVID-19 booster shots at your health care provider, pharmacies, and other locations. You do not need to get your shots all at the same place. Also, the location does not need to have the same vaccine brand as your first shot. Speak with a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have questions about what booster is right for you. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to find a vaccine provider near you.
People who should get a second booster of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine include: Adults who got a total of two shots of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least four months ago can also get a second booster of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, but it is not required for them to be considered up to date on their vaccines. These people can get a second booster because they are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Getting a second booster may be especially important for people over the age of 65. It may also be important for people who have other health conditions that make them more likely to get very sick.
Talk with a health care provider if you have questions about whether a second booster is right for you.
Should I get my second booster now or wait until later? People who get a second booster now might still need more boosters later this year. However, it may be helpful to get it now if you are (or if someone you live with is): You may consider waiting to get a second booster if you: A second booster may be more important in the fall of 2022. It may also be important if a new vaccine for a future COVID-19 variant becomes available.
Research continues to show that vaccines and boosters: During the recent Omicron surge, people who had gotten their booster were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who had not been vaccinated. They were also seven times less likely to be hospitalized. Early data show that a second booster shot may protect people even more from getting very sick from COVID-19. A second booster is recommended for people who are 50 years or older or have a moderately or severely compromised immune system.
The FDA and CDC will continue to talk about whether everyone may need another booster. Currently, second boosters are only recommended for certain people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. People who get a second booster now may still need more boosters later this year. In the meantime, people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 have the option to increase their protection now.
Most adults can get either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their booster. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine and booster is only available to adults who are allergic to the other vaccines, can’t access the other vaccines, or who would not get vaccinated if they are unable to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Additionally, adults who have had a total of two shots of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least four months ago can choose to get a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. A Johnson & Johnson vaccine cannot be used as a second booster. A second booster is not needed for these people to be considered up to date on their vaccines unless you have a moderately or severely compromised immune system. Speak with a health care provider if you have questions about which booster is right for you.
COVID-19 vaccines that are NOT authorized or approved by the FDA OR listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) do not count toward vaccination in the U.S. You should restart your series of vaccines with an FDA-approved vaccine at least 28 days after your last shot. You should also get a Pfizer or Moderna booster five months after you get your vaccine(s). If you got a COVID-19 vaccine listed for emergency use by the WHO but that is not approved or authorized by the FDA, you should get a Pfizer or Moderna booster shot at least five months after your last vaccine. If you have a moderately or severely compromised immune system, you may need an additional shot and a booster shot even earlier. Learn more about boosters and additional doses. Speak with a health care provider if you have questions.
You are considered “boosted” and up to date right after your final booster shot. A first or second booster shot doesn’t take two weeks to help protect you from COVID-19 because your first shot(s) have already built up some immunity.
During the recent Omicron surge, people who had gotten their booster were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to people who had not been vaccinated. They were also seven times less likely to be hospitalized. Ask a health care provider if you have questions about which booster is right for you.