Tips For Navigating The Vaccination Process
Millions of people around the world have now been safely vaccinated against COVID-19, bringing us all one step closer to getting back to doing more of the things we enjoy with the people we love. For many the COVID-19 vaccines couldnt come fast enough, but others understandably have questions about the vaccination process and what to expect when it comes to their turn.
We spoke to UNICEF health experts to find out about the vaccination process and tips on what you can do before, during and after.
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Dont Wear Clothes That Make It Hard To Access Your Upper Arm
If you want to make your vaccination as smooth as possible, think about what youll wear. You typically have a choice of which arm will receive the shot, so make sure that upper arm is easily accessible to your vaccine administrator.
Youve got to think about how youre going to get your arm nicely exposed out there with minimal contact and minimal manipulation, Fuller said, suggesting wearing something like a short-sleeve shirt or a tank top underneath a sweater.
Dont Stop Taking Necessary Steroids But Consider Spacing Them Out If Theyre Optional
If you are already taking steroid medications because of a chronic condition, dont suddenly change your medication in anticipation of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
If youre on these drugs, theres a reason youre on these drugs, Russo said. If youre on any sort of therapy that youre concerned may affect your vaccine response, that therapy is likely critical, though, for what its being used for. And before doing anything, you should reach out to a health care provider and discuss the medications youre on, and the fact that you can be vaccinated, and if anything should be changed or not.
But if you are planning to take steroids for back pain, for example, and you have a choice of when you start taking them, consider timing it for two weeks before or after your vaccine because steroids interact with your immune system, Fuller said.
That two-week window is when the initial response to the vaccine is going to hit its threshold, so if you get something else like a steroid shot, or another vaccine, or whatever, thats a safe window where youre not going to have interference with one another, Fuller said.
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Have Your Documents Ready
If you are scheduled for vaccination before May 1, you may have to show proof of eligibility. , epidemiologist and medical director for infectious diseases at Access Health Louisiana, tells Verywell that the expectations for documentation vary at each site.
At the very least, you should be able to prove your age and employment . You are not required to present a state ID or drivers license. Instead, you can show proof such as a birth certificate, pay stub, or employee badge.
What To Tell Your Gp Or Clinic Nurse
Before receiving a vaccine, tell your GP or nurse if the person about to be immunised:
- is unwell on the day of vaccination
- has a disease which lowers immunity
- is having treatment which lowers immunity
- is an infant of a mother who was receiving highly immunosuppressive therapy (for example, biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs during pregnancy
- has had a severe reaction following any vaccine
- has any severe allergies
- has had any vaccine in the past month
- has had an injection of immunoglobulin, or received any blood products, or a whole blood transfusion in the past year
- is pregnant
- has an occupation or lifestyle factor/s for which vaccination may be needed.
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Bring A Bottle Of Water To Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is not only vital for everyday health, but it can also help lessen or prevent discomfort from the vaccine’s possible side effects. Having a bottle of water on hand makes it easier to keep hydration up while waiting for the vaccine to be administered. Conversely, dehydration can cause dizziness and constipationsymptoms that can worsen side effects.
Completing Your Vaccine Schedule
Provinces and territories are responsible for planning their immunization programs. They will decide how best to incorporate the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s guidance into their plans to meet their unique population needs.
Most COVID-19 vaccines require 2 doses. A second dose is essential for longer-lasting and optimal protection, including against variants of concern. If you have already had COVID-19 you may also be offered 2 doses.
A different COVID-19 vaccine may be offered for a second dose. This is known as a mixed vaccine schedule.
NACI recommends that mRNA vaccines should be offered for both first and second doses. Your health care provider may offer you the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria vaccine depending on your unique health situation. For example, if you’re allergic to an mRNA vaccine.
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Before you arrive at your vaccination appointment:
- talk to your health care provider about any questions or concerns you may have about vaccination
- plan which strategies you’ll use during vaccination to limit discomfort or pain
- contact your provincial or territorial health authority if you have additional questions about how to prepare for your vaccination
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Are There Reasons To Not Get The Vaccine
Yes. There are a few reasons to wait to get the vaccine.
- If you have a severe reaction to the first COVID-19 vaccine dose, you should check with your provider and perhaps seek a consultation with an allergist.
Five Republican Governors Seek Vaccine Exemptions Escalating A Fight With The Pentagon
Governors from five states have written a joint letter to Lloyd J. Austin III, the defense secretary, asking that their National Guard troops be exempted from a federal coronavirus vaccine mandate, greatly escalating what had been a single state conflict over inoculations.
Setting punishment requirements for refusing to be Covid-19 vaccinated, and requiring separation from each state National Guard if unvaccinated are beyond your constitutional and statutory authority, wrote the governors of Alaska, Wyoming, Iowa, Mississippi and Nebraska, all Republicans, to Mr. Austin, and asked that their states be given an exemption from the requirement. The Pentagon has yet to respond to the letter, which was dated Tuesday.
Last month, the Defense Department rejected an attempt by Kevin Stitt, the governor of Oklahoma, to exclude the states National Guard from the mandate, setting the stage for Guard members in the state to lose their jobs should they refuse. The department this week released a new order noting that all guard members who do not get vaccinated will receive a general order of reprimand, which would essentially end their career.
Federal officials have said that governors have no legal standing to allow Guard members to refuse the vaccine mandate. State officials and some legal experts, however, believe that unless National Guard members are federally deployed, they are under the jurisdiction of the governor of their state and therefore not subject to federal mandates.
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Type Of Ingredient And What It Does
- Medical ingredient: Provides instructions for our body on how to make a viral protein that triggers an immune response within our bodies. The immune response is what causes our bodies to make the antibodies needed to protect us from getting infected if exposed to the coronavirus.
- Lipids : Form a protective shell around the mRNA to keep it stable and intact until it reaches the body and starts to do its work. They help the mRNA slide inside the cells. After that they dissolve and are removed by your body.
- Salts: Used to maintain pH and stability of the vaccine so it will be accepted into your body.
- Acids and Acid Stabalizers: Work with the other ingredients to maintain the stability of the vaccine.
- Sugar: Works with the other ingredients to maintain the stability of the vaccine. Sugar helps the molecules maintain their shape during freezing.
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May Undocumented Immigrants Receive The Vaccine For Free
Yes. The vaccine itself is free for all individuals in Massachusetts. Health insurance will cover the cost of administering the vaccine. For patients without health insurance, health care providers may request reimbursement from the federal government for the cost of administering vaccine to undocumented immigrants.
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Los Angeles Schools Put Off A Student Vaccine Mandate Until Fall 2022
The school board in Los Angeles decided on Tuesday to put off until the next academic year a plan to require coronavirus vaccination for students 12 and older who attend class in person.
Under a plan that the Los Angeles Unified School Districts Board of Education approved in September, those students would have needed to show proof of full vaccination by Jan. 10. Otherwise they would be transferred to an online study program.
But on Tuesday, the board voted to delay the policys start date until the fall 2022.
When the district first announced the vaccine mandate, about 80,000 students who were eligible for vaccination had not yet been inoculated. As of last week, the figure was about 34,000, The Los Angeles Times reported.
The school district said on Tuesday that delaying the rule would allow further time to offer educational opportunities to vaccine-hesitant families. It also said that more than 86 percent of students in the district had already complied with the mandate, and that others were in the process of registering their vaccine paperwork.
Starting in January, the district will require all staff members and students to undergo weekly coronavirus testing, the district said on Tuesday. Beginning in February, only unvaccinated students will have to be tested regularly.
Expert Tips For Getting Kids Prepared To Get A Shot
1. Ask how your child feels about getting the COVID vaccine, and what they already know
Start your conversation with questions. Your child may not offer their thoughts or feelings without being prompted, and this gives you the chance to hear what your child may already know about the vaccine.
And make sure when you start the conversation that you have enough time and space to allow it to go as you need it to go.
Avoid bringing up the topic on the way to a soccer game where you may be cut short or if your child is hungry or tired. Timing can really matter in helping your child process this information so make sure you have the time and patience to hear your childs feelings.
Then, most importantly, listen to what your child has to say without judgment. Dont blow off statements like needles are scary or use phrases like, Its no big deal. Youll be fine. This may seem like youre trying to reassure your child but, really, it may make your child think their feelings are wrong. Hear your child out and try responding by acknowledging these feelings.
You may want to say things like, its okay to feel worried about it. A lot of people do. All feelings are okay. Its my job to be here to help you be more comfortable, said Rumple. Validate feelings and make a plan so your child feels supported.
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5. Practice
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And Don’t Forget To Do Your Part
Don’t forget that it takes time for immunity to build up. So keep following Dr. Anthony Fauci’s fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you livewear a face mask that fits snugly and is double layered, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with , practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and don’t forget to get your second shot if you are receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. And to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.
Will Getting The Vaccine Negatively Impact A Persons Immigration Status
No. The federal government has confirmed that it will not consider COVID-19 treatment as part of a determination of whether someone is a public charge or as it relates to the public benefit condition for certain individuals seeking an extension of stay or change of status, even if the vaccine is paid for by Medicaid or other federal funds.
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Will I Receive Anything To Show Proof Of Vaccination
You should receive a vaccination card or printout that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. Please be sure to keep this card for your second dose. You may take a photo of your card as a backup digital copy.
You should receive a paper or electronic version of a fact sheet that tells you more about the specific COVID-19 vaccine you are being offered. Each authorized COVID-19 vaccine has its own fact sheet that contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits of receiving that specific vaccine. The factsheets can be found at Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers , Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers , and
Where Can I Get Vaccinated
There are various places where you can be vaccinated.
- Local clinics
- Large-scale vaccination centers run by municipalities, such as public facilities and gymnasiums
- Large-scale vaccination centers run by the Self-Defense Forces in Tokyo and Osaka
- Starting June 21, some universities and offices will start inoculating their students and workers at their facilities
Those who want to get inoculated at a venue outside the municipality where your residency is currently registered should contact your local government office.
You can use this site to search for your nearest vaccination site .
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Should People Who Have Had Covid
Yes, people who have previously had COVID-19 should be vaccinated. Experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possiblealthough rarethat you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again.
Apple Has A New Return To Office Date: Indefinite
Apple, which had already delayed its employees return to physical offices from September to October to January to February, has a new timeline: to be determined.
Tim Cook, Apples chief executive, told employees in a message viewed by The New York Times on Wednesday that the company was delaying a return to hybrid work to a date yet to be determined.
He said the decision was made because of the surge of the coronavirus around the world, fueled by the contagious Omicron variant. Mr. Cook also said the company would provide an additional $1,000 to each employee to help furnish home offices.
The company confirmed the postponement but declined to comment further.
The news came on the heels of Apples temporarily closing three retail stores, in Miami, Annapolis, Md., and Ottawa, amid a spike of positive tests and exposure among employees at those stores.
Unlike other big tech companies like Facebook, which has allowed employees to request to work from home permanently, Apple has maintained that it wants its workers to return to the office at least part-time when it is safe to do so. That has led to conflict with some of its workers, who fought this plan over the summer, a clash that evolved into AppleToo, a broader activist movement at the company.
With its new indefinite timeline, Apple joins a growing list of companies that have bowed to the unpredictable ebbs and flows of the pandemic by scrapping specific return dates.
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The Cdcs First Coronavirus Tests Were Contaminated And Poorly Designed The Agency Says
The faulty coronavirus testing kits developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the early weeks of the pandemic were not only contaminated but had a basic design flaw, according to an internal review by the agency.
Health officials had already acknowledged that the test kits were contaminated, but the internal report, whose findings were published in PLOS ONE on Wednesday, also documented a design error that caused false positives.
The distribution of faulty test kits, at a time when no other tests were authorized, set back health officials efforts to detect and track the virus.
It delayed the availability of more widespread testing, said Dr. Benjamin Pinsky, the director of clinical virology for Stanford Health Care. He added, I think its important that they got to the bottom of what went wrong.
In January 2020, the C.D.C. developed a polymerase chain reaction, or P.C.R., test for the virus. P.C.R. tests, which are performed in laboratories, can detect the virus at very low levels and have been considered the gold standard for diagnosing a coronavirus infection.
Problems emerged soon after the C.D.C. had begun shipping its test kits out to public health laboratories in early February. Within days, many labs were reporting that the tests were generating inconclusive results.