Have a question about the Covid-19 vaccine? New information regarding the Covid-19 vaccine comes out regularly. Hann’s Pharmacy is doing its best to keep you informed. You can learn more about the Covid-19 vaccines available at Hann’s Pharmacy here.
We’re sharing the answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Is anyone currently eligible for a booster?
The CDC recommends that adults 18 years and older get a booster shot. If you get a Pfizer booster, you may do so at age 13 and old.
Will Hann’s be administering the COVID Vaccine to kids?
Hann’s Pharmacy is now administering the Pfizer Pediatric vaccine for children 5 years and older. Schedule your vaccine here.
How can I best prepare my child prior to the vaccine?
There is no one size fits all for every child. You know your child best, but below are some of what we’ve seen work well:
- If your children are ages 8-12, it may be appropriate to talk with them about what to expect and the steps taken to help ease fear. Discuss some of the history of the vaccines and how they have helped eradicate disease.
- Bring an object of comfort
- Give them something to look forward to after the visit, maybe a trip to the park or their favorite meal afterward
- Let them know it’s okay to be afraid and have questions, share that many adults have the exact same feeling
If I got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster?
Yes. It is recommended that anyone that got the J&J vaccine gets a booster after 2 months from the first dose. There is the ability to choose which vaccine to use, so it’s acceptable to ask for the Pfizer or Moderna and discuss with a health professional. The choice is up to the patient.
Is it safe to receive a different vaccine than the one I originally received?
CDC does not recommend mixing products for a two-dose primary vaccine series or an additional primary dose. If you received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you should get the same product when you need a second shot or additional primary dose. However, mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines is allowed for booster shots for people ages 18 years and older.
The most prominent in this example is with Johnson and Johnson, which shows it may be more beneficial to switch to Moderna or Pfizer, which uses different technology in the production of this vaccine, but ONLY if there are no contraindications to using mRNA technology. For example, if myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) is a concern, this should be evaluated before using Moderna or Pfizer, and perhaps J&J is safest for this person.
What happens if I missed my second dose? Do I need to start over? Can I get my second dose and still be protected?
If a second dose of Moderna or Pfizer has not been received, there is no need to think about it as “starting over.” The best practice is to get your second dose as soon as possible to allow for adding on to the antibody production of the body.
It is shown to be effective up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. But it is still recommended to get the second dose even after that as it too will allow for protection. It is recommended that you receive your booster shot 5 months after the second dose of Pfizer for those 5 years of age and older. It is recommended that you receive your booster shot 5 months after the second dose of Moderna for those 18 years of age and older.
Everyone is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-shot series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the J&J/Janssen vaccine.