Frequently asked Question about COVID-19 Vaccines:
- Is Healthcare Network providing the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. Due to limited supply, COVID-19 vaccines are not available in our practices. Vaccines are available, by appointment, through our community vaccination events. Please frequently monitor your local Health Department’s website (Lee or Collier County, for example) for information on future vaccination clinics. Healthcare Network is currently administering the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, as of April 5, all Floridians age 18 and older are eligible to receive this COVID-19 vaccine. Please, visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/ for more information on vaccine eligibility.
- When will the COVID-19 vaccine be available to general community?
Initial supplies of the vaccine are limited and will be delivered in accordance with federal and state agencies. Healthcare Network is prepared and standing ready to be able to administer the vaccine to our patients and the community when state and federal guidelines permit.
- How many shots of the COVID-19 vaccine will be needed?
Healthcare Network is currently administering the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, which requires 2 doses given 28 days apart. When you receive your first dose, you will get a vaccination card to show when you return for your second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. Remember to bring your card when you return.
Note: Vaccines products such as Pfizer and Moderna are not interchangeable. A person should be sure they know which vaccine product they got as the first dose and be clear about when to return for the second dose.
- How long does protection from vaccine last? Will a booster or annual vaccine be needed?
We do not know how long protection will last following complete vaccination (2 doses) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or if more doses will be necessary in the future. This is still being evaluated scientific subject matter experts.
- Is the vaccine safe?
Safety is the top priority of any vaccine. The FDA is committed to science and the critical evaluation of all new vaccines for their safety and efficacy in an unbiased way before their authorization for use. Healthcare Network is currently administering the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, which requires 2 doses given 28 days apart. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older under an Emergency Use Authorization.
- What medical information will your vaccination provider need before you get the COVID-19 vaccine?
You will be asked to document medical conditions, including if you:- have any allergies
- have a fever
- have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
- are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding
- have received another COVID-19 vaccine
- What side effects can I expect from the vaccines?
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which include pain, tenderness and swelling around the injection site, headache, fatigue, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Serious adverse reactions are rare. But if redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours, or the side effects are worrying you or aren’t going away after a few days, call your doctor.Healthcare Network will monitor recipients after the vaccine for immediate adverse reactions:
30 minutes: Persons with a history of an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a vaccine or injectable therapy and persons with a history of anaphylaxis due to any cause
15 minutes: All other persons
If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to nearest hospital. Signs of severe allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, swelling of your face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over your body and dizziness and weakness.
If you have a history of allergic reactions to vaccines, talk to your healthcare provider before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Is there a cost to receive the vaccine at Healthcare Network?
Healthcare Network is currently administering the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge.
- If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated?
There is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again; this is called natural immunity. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this.
- Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
The vaccines do not contain live virus that cause COVID-19 and therefore cannot give someone COVID-19.
- Will we still need to wear masks and practice physical distancing once the vaccine is available?
It will take many months before a large portion of the population is able to be vaccinated. In the meantime, wearing masks, physical distancing and avoiding large gatherings will continue to remain essential to reducing the spread.
- Is the vaccine safe for pregnant women?
Pregnant and breastfeeding women have been excluded from the leading vaccine clinical trials so far. This is not unusual as vaccine clinical trials typically do not enroll participants who are pregnant or lactating until the vaccine has been shown to be safely tolerated in people who are not pregnant.There are current studies on the COVID vaccine in which pregnant women are part of the study pool. We should have that data in the coming year.
Counseling for pregnant women about the vaccine will be updated as more data is available
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html
https://www.henryford.com/coronavirus/vaccine-faqs#sure
- Can children get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The Food & Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 12 years and older, while Moderna’s vaccine is approved for anyone 18 years and older. The vaccines’ efficacy and safety are currently being evaluated for younger children.
- Are Healthcare Network employees required to take the vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine is not being required at this time, though it is strongly recommended for all healthcare workers for their protection, and the protection of Healthcare Network patients. All employees will be still be required to follow PPE protocols.
Questions about your individual decision to take the vaccine should be addressed with your primary care physician.
15. Can a person who has received the COVID-19 vaccine still spread COVID-19?
Currently the answer is still unclear, although a growing body of evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people are less likely to have asymptomatic infection and are potentially less likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2 to others. Further studies are ongoing to develop a concrete answer to this important question.
16. I am experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, do I still need to get tested if I am fully vaccinated?
Yes, fully vaccinated individuals can still get COVID-19 therefore testing is still required.
17. Are Healthcare Network employees and patients still required to wear masks?
Yes, the latest CDC recommendations for fully vaccinated people and the use of PPE do not extend to healthcare settings like Healthcare Network. Patients and employees are still required to wear a mask and practice physical distancing at our practices.
18. What are COVID-19 symptoms?
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.
Resource Line
PHONE: 239.675.7080
EMAIL: HCNcovid@healthcareswfl.org
Managed by a multilingual team consisting of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, and individuals with experience in public health and health education, our resource line can help answer community questions about the virus.
It will also provide callers with information on community resources and testing locations.
COVID-19 Testing
Healthcare Network is committed to providing our community access to free COVID-19 testing. Future testing events at the Nichols Community Health Center and other locations throughout Collier County are being organized and will be announced.
For the latest updates on future Healthcare Network COVID-19 testing events, visit our calendar
Mental Health Support for Frontline Workers
Through a generous grant, Healthcare Network is offering three FREE mental health sessions to frontline workers and their families in need of support as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.