Getting your COVID-19 vaccine

All people 12 years of age or older are eligible to receive the vaccine.

There is no charge to patients for the COVID-19 vaccine. Patient insurance information may be collected at your visit.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the vaccine that has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The fully approved vaccine is marketed as Comirnaty because as part of the approval process, the vaccine gets a brand name approved for use in the U.S.

The Oregon Health Authority states that a “third dose is specifically for individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and may not have built up an adequate protective immune response with their first series of vaccinations. Currently, the only authorized third doses are for the Moderna and Pfizer Comirnaty vaccines. The recommendation is for immunocompromised individuals to receive a third dose of the same mRNA vaccine at least 28 days after receiving the second dose in the series.”

At this time, another dose of Johnson & Johnson or an mRNA vaccine is not recommended for immunocompromised individuals who have already received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. These recommendations will be reviewed as the data becomes available.

“A booster dose is for people whose immunity may be fading after they complete their first vaccination series. There is currently no COVID-19 vaccine authorized as a booster. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the CDC will examine data on the safety and efficacy of booster doses in order to issue guidance, which will inform recommendations in Oregon.”

Yes. Adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. We recommend that everyone, who is eligible, is vaccinated as soon as it becomes available.

Most reported side effects are sore arm, fatigue, and lightheadedness.

It has been reported that individuals over the age of 65 have less side effects.

Please note: If you have allergies and own an EpiPen, NHC recommends bringing your EpiPen with you to your vaccination appointment.

Not at this time. The Pfizer vaccine is currently authorized for people ages 12 and older, and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson is authorized for people ages 18 and older.

You will need to contact your travel provider, airline, or destination for this answer. Click here for more safety information on traveling.

According to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, employers may require workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine — with some exceptions. Ask your employer what their requirements are. Learn more.

Just as you can get the flu after you’ve received a flu shot, there is also a chance you can get COVID-19 after you’ve received both doses of the vaccine, but all currently authorized COVID vaccines are 85% – 98% effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalizations.

Pregnant people are at increased risk for severe illness or adverse pregnancy outcomes from COVID-19. If you are pregnant and eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, you may choose to be vaccinated.

If you have questions about vaccinations and pregnancy, please contact your primary care provider. You can also learn more by visiting the CDC’s website.

The vaccine does not affect or alter your DNA in any way.

Messenger RNA vaccines (mNRA vaccines) are a new type of vaccine that teach your cells how to make a piece of protein. The mNRA shot does not get into the nucleus of the cell, where your DNA is kept.

Learn more about how mRNA vaccines work.

No. According to the CDC, mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19, so they cannot give you COVID-19. Learn more.

Yes. CDC recommends that you get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19 because you can be diagnosed more than once. While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection will last.

Yes. COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with underlying health problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity. People with these conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury to choose right now. People are encouraged to receive the earliest vaccine available to them.

All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing severe illness from COVID-19. Scientists recommend you take the vaccine that you are offered. All three vaccines are safe and effective.