COVID-19 Vaccine Information

You may have heard the terms “monovalent” or “bivalent” being used to describe COVID-19 vaccines. Here are the
differences between these two types of vaccines, and the importance of getting an updated bivalent booster when eligible

English: COVID-19 Vaccines – Monovalent vs Bivalent

Spanish: COVID-19 Vaccines – Monovalent vs Bivalent

Other languages are under the vaccine tab on this page.

Bivalent boosters aim to provide better protection from currently-circulating variants of COVID-19

The bivalent vaccines combine the companies’ original COVID-19 vaccine compositions with BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components, providing additional protection by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading. The primary COVID-19 vaccine series will stay the same, given their proven efficacy in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

Staying up to date with booster doses as soon as you are eligible is your best protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated booster dose recommendations are as follows:

• • Children 6 months-5 years who received the original monovalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are now eligible to receive an updated bivalent booster two months after completing the primary series.
  • The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months-4 years will now include two monovalent Pfizer doses and one bivalent Pfizer dose.
    • Children 6 months-4 years who have not yet begun the 3-dose Pfizer primary series or who have not received the third dose of their primary series will now receive the updated Pfizer series
    • Children 6 months-4 years who have already completed the 3-dose Pfizer primary series will not be eligible for additional doses or boosters at this time
  • Novavax COVID-19 boosters are available for adults if they have completed primary series vaccination but have not previously received a COVID-19 booster—and if they cannot or will not receive an updated mRNA booster.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Reference Guide for All Ages

Where can I get a booster? 

You can find booster shots at pharmacies, doctor’s offices and clinics, and anywhere else that COVID-19 vaccine is available. Find a vaccine provider near you on the vaccine locator

You may need to make an appointment, or wait a while to get in for the shot. But don’t worry – your current vaccination still offers protection against serious COVID-19 illness.

I am immunocompromised, do I need an additional dose? 

If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, guidelines will vary. Consult with your physician. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Reference Guide for all who are Immunocompromised

According to the CDC, “You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.” 

After completing the COVID-19 primary series, the CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should receive an updated bivalent booster at least two months after their last dose (of a COVID-19 booster or primary series). 

Yes!  It is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including the updated bivalent booster, at the same time as the flu vaccine or any other vaccine.  It is important that everyone aged 6 months and older is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and receives an annual flu vaccine in the next few months. 

The Pfizer vaccine is authorized and approved for children ages 6 months to 5 years. (Pfizer vaccines for ages 5 and up are already available.) The Moderna vaccine is authorized for ages 6 months to 6 years.  Both these vaccines are made using the messenger RNA platform. 

Are the COVID vaccine doses for kids the same as they are for adults?

Target population

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 4 years of age. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 5 years of age.

The benefits of the Moderna vaccine: Only two trips to the doctor, clinic, or pharmacy completes the primary series. A booster or boosters will probably be needed later. One fewer dose to have to cajole a toddler into getting. Quicker protection.

The benefits of the Pfizer vaccine: Milder reactions.

The drawback of the Moderna vaccine: The larger doses of vaccine may induce more reactions, than the Pfizer vaccine.

The drawbacks of the Pfizer vaccine: It will take nearly three months to get a child fully vaccinated. Getting this vaccine requires three medical visits, and three vaccinations in an age group that typically hates getting needles. Failing to get the third shot means a child may not be protected.

The time to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is now. Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 15 million children
in the United States have gotten COVID-19. New COVID-19 variants are more dangerous and infectious to children than
the original strains.
Children can also spread COVID-19 to others and develop serious complications from COVID-19, such as “long COVID”
or a dangerous inflammatory disease called MIS-C.

Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines – what parents/guardians should know

Pregnant people are at much higher risk for complications and death from COVID-19.
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After rigorous research, COVID-19 vaccines are now strongly recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding people by the CDC, and tens of thousands of obstetricians, midwives, family physicians and other OB providers.
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When it comes to you and your baby’s health, having accurate information is vital. This resource is updated with the latest research into vaccine safety, pregnancy and COVID-19. 

Visit One Vax, Two Lives for answers to all your questions, curated by medical professionals, with links to verified research.

There are two distinct potential uses for an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine:

An additional 4th dose  This additional dose of vaccine is given when the immune response following a primary vaccine series is likely to be insufficient. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agency now advises people with weak immune systems to receive three primary shots plus a booster, for a total of four doses.

• In August, the CDC began allowing immunocompromised people to receive a third dose of mRNA vaccine as part of their primary vaccination.
• In October, the CDC updated its guidance to allow people with suppressed immune systems to receive a fourth shot as a booster.

A Booster dose is an additional dose of vaccine given after a specified amount of time, regardless of the immune response to the first two vaccinations.

Although COVID-19 vaccination for adults aged 65 years and older remains effective in preventing severe disease, recent data pdf icon[4.7 MB, 88 pages] suggest vaccination is less effective at preventing infection or milder illness with symptoms. Emerging evidence also shows that among healthcare and other frontline workers, vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infections is decreasing over time. This lower effectiveness is likely due to the combination of decreasing protection as time passes since getting vaccinated (e.g., waning immunity) as well as the greater infectiousness of the Delta variant.

Booster doses of all three COVID-19 vaccine types are now available for everyone 18 and older. The expansion comes following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

At least five months after receiving both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:

• Those 18 and older should receive a booster dose.
• In January, the CDC shortened the time that anyone must wait for a booster from six months to five.

Everyone 18 and older who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster shot two months after getting vaccinated.

After being infected with the coronavirus, you will develop antibodies and some immune protection.  The amount of protection can vary significantly among different individuals. Experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Recent research published by the CDC found that people who had survived COVID-19 in Kentucky and remained unvaccinated were more than twice as likely as vaccinated survivors to become reinfected.

The bottom line: Vaccines offer a more predictable protection, and it will likely last longer.

You can be vaccinated as soon as you complete your isolation period – no need to wait!

BFHD is not currently resourced to provide vaccine to the community from our building. Check the top of this page for clinics we are hosting with community organizations.

1) If you or someone you know needs assistance with qualification or help finding a provider, call 1.800.525.0127 and press #.

2) Check Vaccine Locator  and/or VaccineFinder to locate a provider near you.

3) If you need help getting to a vaccine location, visit www.bft.org/VaccineTransportation.

Resources

Understanding the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program – CDC

V-safe: a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.

There is a huge personal benefit from getting vaccinated: Most vaccinated people avoid serious illness, as the Omincron variant of COVID-19 spreads rapidly in our community.  It helps to protect you, your friends and family, and other people in the community from COVID-19. That means you are less likely to miss work or school, to need medical care and the expense that comes with it. You are less likely to infect your family and friends.

And as a community, the only way we can get past this pandemic is to have an overwhelming majority of our residents protected from COVID-19 and taking precautions to limit its spread.

• Vaccinated people are less likely to become infected and to spread the virus to others. Every person who gets fully vaccinated is helping limit how much COVID-19 we have in our community. And it reduces the possibility of the virus replicating and mutating (and possibly becoming more resistant to vaccines).
• Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures alone are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.
• Over time, as more people are vaccinated, we may no longer need some of the other COVID-19 prevention measures that are necessary at this time.

• CDC vaccination card or photo of vaccine card.
• Documented proof of vaccination from medical record or vaccine provider.
• Printed certificate or QR code (available at the end of September) from MyIRMobile.com. 

You do not have to have your card to provide your vaccination status. Your Washington State Immunization Record is your official record for all of your immunizations. Get your record at Washington | MyIR.  MyIR Mobile is an internet-based service that gives people access to their official Washington state vaccination records. You can set up an account at www.MyIRMobile.com.

MyIR Mobile is currently available in English only. For language assistance, or additional help getting your records, call the Washington State Vaccine Helpline at 833-829-4357 or email waiisrecords@doh.wa.gov.

• If you lose or misplace your card and want a new one, you can call your provider to see if they are able to provide a replacement.
• For lost cards distributed at the Mass Vaccination Site, call the Health District COVID Call Center at 509.460.4358 (509.460.4359 Esp.).
• If your record is not in MyIR, call 1-800-525-0127 for assistance.

Your Washington State Immunization Record is your official record for all of your immunizations. Get your record at Washington | MyIR. If your record is not in MyIR, call 1-800-525-0127 for assistance.

A safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 is a major breakthrough in preventing COVID-19 infection, but needs to be used in combination with other preventive measures. Vaccine alone will not end the pandemic. For this reason, even with the vaccine now available, it is necessary to continue with the core COVID-19 safety precautions including limiting activities outside the home, physical distancing, and mask wearing for the foreseeable future as we learn more about how long the protection lasts, when and if additional doses are needed and as more people become protected through vaccination over time.

+ Vaccine Safety Handout – DOH

+ Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness Webpage with FAQs – DOH

We now have more than nine months of experience with COVID-19 vaccines, and one of those vaccines (from Pfizer) has already passed all of the investigation required for final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  And in this time, we have learned:

• All of the vaccines available in the U.S. are very safe. People may have temporary side effects (such as feeling very tired and achy for a day or two). But the number of people with serious reactions to the vaccines is extremely low.

• All of the available vaccines are proving effective, even against many variants.  We measure effective based on how well they prevent people from getting so sick that they need to go to the hospital, or face dying. For example, during September 2021 in King County, people who are not fully vaccinated are more than 40 times more likely to need hospitalization for COVID-19 than people who are vaccinated. And people not fully vaccinated are more than 50 times more likely to die from COVID-19.

• Highly effective does not mean 100% effective.  No vaccine, against any disease, is 100% effective.  No medication to treat disease is 100% effective.

• The vaccines limit how much people spread the virus (but they do not completely stop us from spreading it). People who are vaccinated are far less likely to get infected, even if they are exposed. And if you are not infected, you can’t spread the virus to others. Even if a vaccinated person does get COVID-19, they usually have it for a shorter period of time, and that means they spread it less than someone who is not fully vaccinated.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing to assess data on whether fully vaccinated people with asymptomatic breakthrough infections can transmit the virus.

Clinical Trials

COVID-19 vaccines must go through rigorous clinical trials in which many thousands of study participants receive the vaccine. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates the scientific data from these studies to determine the safety and effectiveness of each vaccine. FDA relies on input from an advisory group of outside scientists and experts, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) to provide an objective and thorough analysis of safety and effectiveness. VRBPAC also makes recommendations to FDA about vaccine approval. This is a transparent process because VRBPAC meetings are open to the public.

If a vaccine meets the FDA’s safety and effectiveness standards, the FDA can make the vaccines available for use in the U.S. by traditional licensure or emergency use authorization.

After the FDA makes its determination, a second independent advisory body of outside immunization experts, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), will review the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness data and make recommendations to the CDC with guidance for healthcare providers and the public about the use of the vaccine.

Vaccine Safety Monitoring

After a vaccine is authorized for use, multiple safety monitoring systems are in place to watch for possible side effects. If an unexpected serious side effect is detected, experts work as quickly as possible to determine whether it is a true safety concern. This serves as an ongoing evaluation of safety even after the clinical trials are completed. For COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC and FDA have expanded safety monitoring systems to carefully evaluate safety in real-time and make sure the COVID-19 vaccines are as safe as possible.

Some Vaccine Formulations Require More Than one Dose

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require more than one dose for optimum effectiveness. Both vaccines have shown an efficacy around 95% after the second dose is taken approximately 21-28 days after the initial dose, depending upon the vaccine. COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to use the latest data related to safety and how well vaccines work, including over time and against new variants.

Only Licensed and Trained Health Professionals Can Give Vaccinations

Only individuals who are licensed and trained to administer vaccines are able to provide vaccination. These providers may administer vaccine both in clinics and hospitals,  pharmacies and at more mobile or vaccination sites in the community.

DOH guidance documents provide additional information on where masks are still required.  

Even though masks are no longer required in many places, individuals may want to continue to wear a mask for added protection against COVID-19, including those who are immunocompromised, those living with someone immunocompromised, or simply those who may just feel safer wearing a mask. Everyone should assess their own personal risk when making this decision.

Additionally, everyone should continue to use COVID-19 prevention measures such as staying up to date on vaccination, handwashing,  testing, and staying home when you’re sick.

***All local and national businesses can be more restrictive with masking guidance, but not less. A mandate follows a different process for approval than a legislative law, but it is still a requirement and can be enforced.***

Benton-Franklin Health District is not the authoritative body for mask mandates. 

• Customers who are concerned that a business is not adequately enforcing the face mask order can submit an anonymous complaint here.
• Businesses with questions about the face covering order contact the state’s Business Response Center. If you’re an employer and have questions about the order regarding face coverings for employees, visit the state Department of Labor & Industries common questions page.

Myocarditis and Pericarditis

» Myocarditis and Pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination – CDC

» Statement on small number of myocarditis and pericarditis cases in vaccine recipients – DOH

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

» CDC Recommends Use of J&J’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine – what you need to know

» CDC and FDA joint press release

» DOH information on resuming the use of Johnson & Johnson after small number of blood clots in recipients

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

» Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination

» COVID-19 Vaccinations for People with Underlying Health Conditions

VAERS Overview Video

VAERS reports can be difficult to understand and often have been misinterpreted.  

4-minute educational VAERS overview video English and Spanish

Now that there are authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, accurate vaccine information is critical.

How do I know which sources of COVID-19 vaccine information are accurate?

+ Vaccine Safety Handout – DOH

It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. Learn more about finding credible vaccine information.

The CDC addresses the most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy on their myths and facts page.

• Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19? (NO)
• After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test? (NO)
• If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get a vaccine? (YES)
• Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA? (NO)
• Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant or want to have a baby one day? (YES!)

Other Frequently Asked Questions about vaccination can be found here.

Booster doses flyer ENGLISH (BFHD-10/21)

Booster doses flyer SPANISH (BFHD-10/21)

Pediatric Healthcare Professionals COVID-19 Vaccination Toolkit

FAQs About Consent for Minors

Talking to Patients About Vaccines

Vaccine Recipient Education

Community Based Organizations COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit

Vaccines – What you should know – English

Vaccines – What you should know – Spanish

Side Effects – English

Side Effects – Spanish

What happens after vaccination – Spanish

COVID Facts – Spanish

Sick with COVID-19 Fact Sheet – Spanish

+ COVID-19 Vaccines Toolkit for Businesses and Employers

+ Vaccine Safety Handout – DOH

+ Vaccine Safety Handout – BFHD

• COVID-19 Vaccine Website
• Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

• COVID-19 Vaccine Website
• Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
• V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker & Reminder App