COVID-19 Vaccinations FAQ

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Midwestern University Clinics Covid-19 Child Vaccinations Midwestern University is committed to the health of our employees, students, and community members. At both Midwestern University campuses, over 17,00 individuals have been vaccinated through our healthcare clinics. Even further reaching, millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID- 19 vaccines have undergone and continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.

The CDC recommends everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19.

Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are effective, especially at keeping you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 so a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

Recent studies report that the COVID- 19 Delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus that causes COVID-19. It might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated people.

COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection. It is important to get vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Evidence is emerging that people get better protection by being fully vaccinated compared with having had COVID-19.

After receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, you may have some side effects. These are normal signs that your body is building protection.

Once you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing more. After you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, you can resume many activities that you did before the pandemic. It is still recommended to wear a mask while indoors on campus.

All COVID-19 vaccines are administered free of charge.

Help protect your child, your family, and others. Vaccinating all family members can help protect other family members, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at increased risk of getting very sick if they are infected.

There are three authorized and approved COVID-19 vaccines. These are listed in more detail below.

Pfizer-BioNTech

Adolescents ages 12 years and older receive the same dosage of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as adults. Two shots given 21 days (3 weeks) apart with full vaccination identified two weeks after the second vaccination. Additional dose (3^rd dose) is recommended four weeks after the second shot for those identified as moderately to severely immunocompromised.

A booster is recommended for some who are at higher risk for COVID-19 exposure from institutional or occupational exposure or risk for severe illness due to other chronic conditions. It is given six or more months after the second shot.

You are eligible for a booster if you are:

65 years or older
Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States can be received as a booster after Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.

Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines

Pediatric doses for the 5–11-year-old group is now authorized. The Pfizer-BioNTech recommended dose is one-third of that used for adults. The needles used are smaller, specifically designed for children. This is also a two-shot series with the second dose being administered three weeks after the first one. Although children are at a lower risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 compared with adults, children can

Be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19
Get very sick from COVID-19
Have both short and long-term health complications from COVID-19
Spread COVID-19 to others

Vaccinating children ages 5 years and older can help keep them in school and help them safely participate in sports, playdates, and other group activities.

Moderna

COVID-19 vaccine available for those 18 years and older. Two shots are given 28 days (4 weeks) apart with full vaccination identified two weeks after the second vaccination. Additional dose (3^rd dose) is recommended four weeks after the second shot for those identified as moderately to severely immunocompromised

Some groups of people are recommended to get a booster shot at least 6 months after getting their second shot.

You are eligible for a booster if you are:

65 years or older
Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States can be used after a Moderna series.

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen

Available for those 18 years and older. The FDA has added a recommendation for an additional dose for those 18 years and older. The second shot is administered at least 2 months after receiving your vaccine. You can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States for your booster shot.

Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States can be received as a booster after the primary Johnson and Johnson/Janssen series.

Common side effects of all COVID-19 vaccinations

Arm – pain, redness, or swelling. You can use a cool, damp cloth to the area and use the arm to improve these side effects.

Body – tired, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, nausea. To improve how you feel if you develop a fever, drink plenty of fluid and dress lightly.

Talk to your health care provider about using over-the-counter treatments for pain or discomfort AFTER getting the vaccination. You should NOT take these before getting the vaccination to prevent side effects.

Side effects may be more intense after the second shot than the first. After getting a booster, you may have similar symptoms, but they are usually milder.

Contact your health care provider if the pain or redness at the injection site gets worse after 24, the side effects are not going away after a few days or are causing you concern.

If you think you could have a severe allergic reaction, call 911 for immediate care.

COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card

Keep your card for future needs. If you did not get a card with the first shot, contact the provider or Arizona Department of Health to find out how to get a card.

If you are getting an additional shot, bring your card so it can be updated.

Consider taking a picture of the card to keep on your phone.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC from October 29, 2021.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens | CDC from November 3, 2021.

Federal Drug Administration, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Additional Actions on the Use of a Booster Dose for COVID-19 Vaccines from Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Additional Actions on the Use of a Booster Dose for COVID-19 Vaccines | FDA October 20, 2021.

Registering

Please check with the clinic before registering to confirm your preferred vaccine is currently available at our site.