The safety of WellMed/USMD/Optum Florida patients continues to be our first priority. Deciding to receive a vaccine for COVID-19 is a personal choice. Like any medical decision, you are encouraged to consult with your doctor before obtaining the vaccine.

The Vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given via two doses 3-8 weeks apart. People ages 5 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get a third dose at least 4 weeks after their second dose. People ages 5 years and older who received a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series should get a booster. Some people should get a second booster.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is given via two doses 4-8 weeks apart. People ages 18 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get a third dose at least 4 weeks after their second dose. People ages 18 years and older who received a Moderna primary series should get a booster. Some people should get a second booster.

The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is given via one dose. People ages 18 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and who received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine should get a second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). Everyone ages 18 years and older who received a J&J/Janssen primary dose should get a booster. Some people should get a second booster.

*In most situations, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are preferred over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for primary and booster vaccination due to the risk of serious adverse events. Please visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html(Opens in new window) for more information.

Vaccine Booster

WellMed reminds everyone to get their COVID booster vaccination. We also encourage those who have not received their first COVID-19 vaccine doses to do so as soon as possible. WellMed makes this recommendation based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html(Opens in new window).

 

Adults ages 18 years or older

Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

The CDC recommends a first booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for:

• Most people, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series

The CDC recommends a second booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster for:

• Adults ages 50 years and older
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine

The CDC recommends a first booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for:

• Most people, at least 2 months after the primary dose of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 2 months after the additional dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

The CDC recommends a second booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster for:

• Adults ages 50 years and older
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

People ages 18 through 49 years who got a J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for both their primary dose and booster can choose to get a 2nd booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after their 1st booster. The 2nd booster is not required to be considered up to date for people ages 18 through 49 years who got a J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for both their primary dose and 1st booster.

 

Children and teens ages 12–17 years

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

The CDC recommends a first booster of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for:

• Most children and teens, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
• Children and teens who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series

The CDC recommends a second booster of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for:

• Children and teens who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 4 months after the first booster

 

Children ages 5–11 years

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

The CDC recommends a first booster of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for:

• Most children, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
• Children who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series

The CDC does not recommend second boosters for anyone in this age group at this time.

Monoclonal Antibody Infusion

Monoclonal antibodies are used to treat patients with COVID-19. The treatments are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off viruses. Using this treatment early may lead to better outcomes.

Eligibility

Individuals must meet all criteria below to be eligible for monoclonal antibody therapy.

• 12 years of age and older
• Weight of at least 88 pounds
• Test positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing mild or moderate symptoms
• Experienced symptom onset within the last 10 days
• High risk for severe illness or hospitalization from COVID-19 (over age 65, obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, immunosuppressive disease or treatment, etc. For a complete list, please visit www.cdc.gov.)

Vaccination is still recommended. 

Monoclonal antibody treatments are NOT replacements for vaccination. However, people who have never been or have not been fully vaccinated should wait 90 days after receiving monoclonal antibody treatment before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Like the COVID-19 vaccination, there is no cost for monoclonal antibody treatment. It may be offered as an at-home treatment in certain areas.

If you have questions, please speak with your health care provider.

Vaccine Side Effects

Mild to moderate injection site pain is common.

After vaccination, some people may experience symptoms for 24-48 hours. These symptoms may include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, joint pain, and low-grade fever. The symptoms most often occur on the day after the injection. These symptoms may be similar to those experienced after the shingles vaccine but are not a sign of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Most of the symptoms are mild, and resolve quickly after 24 to 48 hours.

Safety

You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. It contains no virus whatsoever (live, dead, or even virus particles). It contains the instructions that tell your body to make a protein that “looks” like the SARS-CoV-2 virus protein to trick your body into creating antibodies that fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.

Taken with other vaccines

We do not recommend that you receive any other vaccines at the same time you are vaccinated for COVID-19. Our current recommendation is that you wait for 14 days after receiving your COVID vaccine before receiving another type of vaccination.

Getting vaccine after having COVID-19

Yes, you should get the vaccine, even if you had the virus, as it will give you even more protection. However, since re-infection is unlikely to occur in the first 90 days after an infection, we are asking that you wait until 90 days have passed after having tested positive to obtain the vaccine.

Need to continue masking/social distancing

Although you will have some protection after the vaccine, you may still be able to pass the virus on to others who are not protected. All protocols regarding masking and social distancing will still be in place until the pandemic improves globally, as per CDC recommendations.

Resources

• How are mRNA vaccines made? cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/mrna-vaccine-basics.html
  (Opens in new window)
• CDC: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
  (Opens in new window)
• CDC: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html (Opens in new window)