COVID-19 VACCINE FAQ’s

1. WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION?
   
   
   1. Drugs and vaccines have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that only safe and effective products are available to the American public. In situations when there is good scientific reason to believe that a drug is safe and is likely to treat or prevent disease, the FDA may authorize its use even if definitive proof of the efficacy of the drug is not known, especially for diseases that cause high mortality.
   
   
   2. It is important to emphasize that the bar for ensuring safety of a vaccine is higher than for a therapeutic to treat an ill person. Vaccines are given to potentially millions of healthy people, unlike drugs for sick people, and loss of trust in a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 could spill over into loss of trust in other vaccines, seriously jeopardizing public health.


2. WHAT PHASE OF THE VACCINATION PLAN ARE WE IN NOW?
   
   
   1. Starting Monday, April 12 the State of Maryland is now in the C phase. This means that all residents ages 16+ can receive the vaccine as well as:
   
   
   • 1A- All licensed, registered, and certified healthcare providers; nursing home residents and staff; law enforcement, and firefighters, EMS, and other first responders; correctional healthcare staff and officers; and front line judiciary staff.
   • 1B- Marylanders age 75 and older; in assisted living, independent living, and other congregate facilities; individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; high-risk incarcerated individuals; continuity of government vaccinations; and education, including K-12 teachers, support staff, and child care providers.
   • 1C- Marylanders age 65 and older; public health and safety workers not covered in Phase 1A; and essential workers in lab services, food/agriculture production, manufacturing, the U.S. Postal Service, public transit, and grocery stores.
   • 2A- Marylanders ages 60+
   • 2B- Marylanders ages 16+ with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19 illness


3. WILL THERE BE ENOUGH VACCINES FOR EVERYONE?
   
   
   
   1. There will most likely not be enough vaccine to vaccinate everyone in phases 1 a-c. However, Pharmaceutical companies are continuing to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine and over the next several months, supply will expand allowing us to continue vaccinating all who wish to receive it. LifeBridge Health receives a new shipment every Monday but the shipment volumes and dose amounts vary week to week
   
   


4. HOW WILL I SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE?
   
   
   
   1. You can sign up at any of our three (3) hospitals or eight (8) affiliated practices shown to the left during operation of the vaccine clinics


5. WILL I BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE IF I HAVE ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19?
   
   
   
   1. Yes, you will still be eligible to receive the vaccine.


6. IF I ELECT TO NOT RECEIVE THE VACCINE INITIALLY, CAN I DECIDE TO RECEIVE IT AT A LATER TIME?
   
   
   
   1. Yes, this will be a continuous process for individuals who want to receive the vaccine to sign up.


7. WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE?
   
   
   
   1. Possible side effects of the vaccine include pain or swelling at the injection site, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, fever, headache, nausea, chills and lymphadenopathy.


8. CAN SOMEONE GET COVID-19 FROM THE VACCINE?
   
   
   
   1. No, it is not possible to get Covid-19 from vaccines.


9. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE VACCINE TO BE EFFECTIVE?
   
   
   
   1. It is critical that you receive both doses of the vaccine. The vaccine is considered to provide protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus about 1-2 weeks after the second shot.


10. HOW MANY SHOTS WILL BE NEEDED?
    
    
    
    1. All but one of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States need two shots to be effective. The two vaccines we will receive initially will require two shots either 21 or 28 days apart.


11. WILL I STILL NEED TO WEAR PPE AFTER I RECEIVE THE VACCINE?
    
    
    
    1. Yes, you will still need to wear the required PPE (masks, etc.) and you should also continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing when in public.


12. HOW DO I REPORT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM OR ADVERSE EFFECT FROM THE VACCINE?
    
    
    
    1. Please contact your physician’s office directly to report any side-effects. In the event of a true medical emergency you should call 911.