Vaccination FAQ

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Note: This information is based on currently available evidence, resources, information, emergency use authorization, and expert opinion, and is subject to change.

What are the COVID information Center’s hours of operation? (Last updated 5/31/22)

What languages are offered to VCIC users? (Last updated 3/3/21)

How can the VCIC support those with Access and Functional Needs? (Last updated 4/7/21)

Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccination? (Last updated 6/22/21)

Is photo identification required for COVID-19 vaccination? (Last updated 5/7/21)

Do I still need an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination? (Last updated 12/15/21)

Where can I find data on the COVID-19 vaccines used in Virginia? (Last updated 5/17/22)

Why am I being asked for my insurance information if the COVID-19 vaccine is free? (Last updated 3/24/22)

I have to quarantine because of close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19. Can I still get vaccinated against COVID-19? (Last updated 3/3/21)

How do I or my eligible children get the vaccine if we are disabled? (Last updated 5/31/22)

Why should we get vaccinated against COVID-19? (Last updated 7/31/22)

Can Long COVID be prevented or treated by COVID-19 vaccination? (Last updated 5/9/22)

How do I learn more about COVID-19 vaccines if I speak a different language? (Last updated 3/18/21)

¿Cómo puedo obtener más información sobre las vacunas contra COVID-19 si hablo un idioma diferente? (Última actualización 3/18/21)

. كيف يمكنني معرفة المزيد عن لقاحات COVID-19 إذا كنت أتحدث لغة مختلفة؟ (آخر تحديث 18/3/21)

다른 언어를 사용하는 경우 COVID-19 백신에 대해 자세히 알아보려면 어떻게 해야 합니까? (최신 업데이트 21년 3월 18일)

Paano ko malalaman ang higit pa tungkol sa mga bakuna ng COVID-19 kung magsasalita ako ng ibang lahi? (Huling binago noong 3/18/21)

如果我说的是另一种语言，如何了解有关新冠（COVID-19）疫苗的更多信息？（最后更新日期：2021 年 3 月 18 日）

What is known about the new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine that is now becoming available in Virginia? (Last updated 8/8/22)

What is mRNA, and how does it work to provide protection? (Last updated 10/13/21)

What is the current status of the Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) viral vector COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 8/8/22)

What is an adjuvanted protein COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 7/31/22)

What is an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a vaccine? (Last updated 11/8/21)

How is a vaccine’s full FDA approval and licensing different from an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)? (Last updated 1/31/22)

Where can I find information on the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 5/24/22)

Where can I find information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 6/27/22)

Where can I find information about the Johnson & Johnson (also known as Janssen Biotech) COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 5/9/22)

Where can I find information about the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 8/1/22)

Can I get another vaccine at the same time as getting a COVID-19 shot? (Last updated 6/22/22)

Should pregnant or breast-feeding individuals get a COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 3/1/22)

Yes. Getting COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can protect you and your fetus and infant from severe illness from COVID-19.

Currently and recently pregnant people are more likely than non-pregnant people to get severely ill if they get COVID-19. Pregnant women with some underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, are at even greater risk. Having COVID-19 disease while pregnant has been associated with stillbirths, preterm birth, low birth weight babies, and other adverse outcomes of pregnancy. A study showed that infants whose mothers received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy were 61% less likely to be hospitalized in their first six months of life compared to infants of unvaccinated mothers.

The CDC, VDH, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) all recommend that pregnant or breast-feeding women or other women who intend to get pregnant and who otherwise are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination should be COVID-19 vaccinated and then stay up to date with vaccination. The most recently updated ACOG recommendations are available and a joint message about COVID-19 vaccination from ACOG and SMFM is also available.

CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have several vaccine safety monitoring systems in place to collect and study information about vaccination during pregnancy and continue to closely monitor that information. Results from CDC’s v-safe voluntary after-vaccination health check system, with public data that is updated weekly, show that a large number of women who received COVID-19 vaccines have had pregnancies, with no vaccine-specific safety issues identified.

In addition, CDC has established a specific v-safe COVID-19 Vaccine Pregnancy Registry to learn more about these issues and initial data from this registry show similar vaccine side effects for pregnant and non-pregnant individuals. The most up to date numbers are available.

How is COVID-19 vaccine safety being monitored? (Last updated 3/10/22)

The safety monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines has been described as “the most comprehensive of any vaccine in US history.”

CDC and FDA continuously monitor the safety of vaccines.These agencies use at least five different systems to monitor vaccine safety:

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS): VAERS is an early warning system that helps CDC and FDA identify potential problems following vaccination. Anyone can and should report possible vaccine side effects to VAERS. However, most of the VAERS monitoring is done by U.S. healthcare providers providing anonymous data from hundreds of millions of patients being vaccinated. This system alerts the CDC and FDA if healthcare systems begin reporting unusual patterns of adverse effect information about events that occur after vaccinations.

NOTE: every healthcare provider who administers COVID-19 vaccines is required to report all serious health events occurring soon after vaccination to the VAERS system even if it seems clear that the death was not related to the vaccine. VAERS is therefore set up as an early warning system to collect as much data as possible about any and all events that may or may not turn out to be side effects of vaccines. Those data are then examined closely to verify the events and to identify any clusters or groups of unexpected serious or severe post-vaccine events. Because the data submitted to - and made publicly available by - VAERS has not yet been verified, the VAERS system clearly cannot determine whether a vaccine caused any specific side effect. VAERS is NOT - and is NOT INTENDED TO BE - a reliable source of information on vaccine side effects. Therefore, drawing conclusions from these publicly available but unverified VAERS screening data alone without the follow-up investigations is scientifically and ethically inappropriate because it is likely to lead to erroneous conclusions.

A description of how VAERS works is available.

The Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD): a collaboration between CDC and nine health care organizations around the United States, which allows ongoing monitoring and proactive searches of vaccine-related data.

The Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Project: a partnership between CDC and several medical centers that conducts clinical research on vaccine-associated health risks.

V-safe is a cell phone-based CDC system that individual COVID-19 vaccine recipients can use to notify CDC if they develop any side effects. Each vaccinated person should download a v-safe app onto their cell phone as soon as they receive the vaccine. Instructions on how to download and use v-safe will be given out when you get the vaccine. v-safe will also remind you about getting your second vaccine dose.

Additional vaccine safety monitoring systems, such as the use of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data, and continued monitoring through clinical trials are also utilized to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

What is known about deaths that are reported to occur after COVID-19 vaccination? (Last updated 1/29/22)

FDA REQUIRES EVERY VACCINE PROVIDER to report EVERY death that occurs after a COVID-19 vaccination to the VAERS reporting system. These death reports by vaccine providers are REQUIRED even if it seems clear that the death was not related to the vaccine. The details of every death are investigated by CDC and FDA physicians as soon as possible after these are reported.

Given the absolute requirement to report EVERY death in a vaccine recipient, regardless of its apparent cause, reports of deaths and other adverse events to VAERS following vaccination can not be interpreted to mean that a vaccine caused these problems. In fact, drawing ANY conclusions from the numbers of reported but unverified deaths in the VAERS system is scientifically inappropriate.

COVID-19 vaccines are being given to hundreds of millions of people in the United States. Many COVID-19 vaccine recipients have pre-existing illnesses or are elderly and frail and are thus already at higher risk of death whether or not they get vaccinated. Therefore, a small percentage of people receiving COVID-19 vaccine are likely to die from natural causes soon after being vaccinated. As discussed here, “VAERS data must be interpreted with caution due to the inherent limitations of passive surveillance. VAERS is primarily a safety signal detection and hypothesis generating system. Generally, VAERS data cannot be used to determine if a vaccine caused an adverse event. VAERS data interpreted alone or out of context will lead to erroneous conclusions about cause and effect as well as the risk of adverse events occurring following vaccination.”

Every death that occurs after COVID-19 vaccination is investigated. With a single exception, an ongoing review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established any causal link between any of these deaths and COVID-19 vaccines.

NOTE: The single exception is that reports have indicated a plausible causal relationship between the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine and TTS, a rare and serious adverse event—blood clots with low platelets—which has caused less than a dozen deaths. Get the latest safety information on the J&J/Janssen vaccine here.

Additional information on investigation of deaths reported after COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the CDC website.

What are common side short term effects of the current COVID-19 vaccines? (Last updated 6/27/22)

Short term vaccine side effects fall into one of three categories:

(1) Local reactions, at or near the injection site

(2) Systemic reactions (such as fever, chills, headache, or muscle aches)

(3) Allergic reactions

This FAQ response addresses the local and systemic side effects. (Allergic side effects are addressed in a later question and response.) Although COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19 disease, you may have some short term local or systemic side effects from the vaccination, which are normal (and expected) signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19.

Some vaccinated adults and children have had local reactions such as pain or redness or tenderness at the injection site. A small number of vaccine recipients have had transient systemic side effects such as fatigue, nausea, chills, fever, headache or other body aches for a few days. These local or systemic side effects do NOT mean that the vaccine has given you a COVID-19 infection. Rather, these expected side effects mean that the vaccine is causing your body’s immune system to react and create antibodies to fight off the virus that causes COVID-19 if you are exposed in the future.

A small number of vaccine recipients have experienced swollen glands (lymph nodes). For the two mRNA vaccines, these expected side effects are more common in younger people than older people and are more common after the 2nd dose than after the first dose.

Less commonly, a few people have reported redness, swelling, and itching around the injection site beginning a few days or in the second week after their first vaccine dose. Although these reactions get better within a few days, some of them have been quite large. However, these local reactions are not considered to be allergic reactions and are not a risk for anaphylaxis when getting a second dose. Individuals with such delayed injection site reactions after the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose should get the second dose using the same vaccine product as the first dose and at the recommended interval, and preferably in the opposite arm. More information about these uncommon “COVID arm” reactions are available.

As happens occasionally with other vaccines such as influenza vaccine, fainting soon after injection has also been noted among a small number of COVID-19 vaccine recipients, especially among adolescents and other young adults. This kind of short term reaction after the first injection of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series is also not a reason to avoid the second dose or any later booster doses when eligible.

For young children, the side effects seen after vaccination were similar to those seen in older children.

Finally, even if you or your child experience one or more of these expected short term side effects after the first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, it is very important that you still receive the second primary series dose a few weeks later for the initial vaccine series to be effective.

What should I do if I or any of my vaccinated children get any of these common COVID-19 vaccine reactions? Are there medicines we can take to prevent or minimize any of these side effects? (Last updated 7/14/21)

Some of the expected side effects could interfere with your - or your child’s - ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

Age appropriate medicines such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen or other medicines called “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” (NSAIDS) can help with the common side effects (for example, arm pain or fever) after those side effects start to occur. However, these drugs should not be taken before your COVID-19 vaccine doses since information on their possible impact on the body's ability to create immunity to COVID-19 infection is not yet available.

If you or your child have persistent injection site pain, short term fever, or other discomfort, talk to your healthcare provider about taking one of these over-the-counter medicines.

To reduce pain and discomfort where you or your child got the shot:

Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area and use or exercise the arm.

To reduce discomfort from fever, dress lightly, and drink plenty of fluids.

When to call the doctor:

In most cases, discomfort from arm pain or swelling where you or your child got the shot or from fever, headache, fatigue, etc., will not last more than a few days after a COVID-19 vaccine dose. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider:

If the redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours
If your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days

Remember to sign yourself and your vaccinated child up for v-safe, where you can use your smartphone to tell CDC about any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. You’ll also get reminders from V-Safe about your second vaccine dose.

Side effects or adverse events can be reported to CDC either in v-safe or VAERS.

Healthcare personnel, experiencing certain symptoms may need to remain out of work, as outlined.

Residents of long term care facilities who experience certain symptoms may need to take additional precautions or measures.

How can I find out about serious adverse events reported after COVID-19 vaccinations? (Last updated 6/21/22)

Information on possible vaccine adverse events (side effects) continues to be collected and studied by CDC, FDA, and other groups, using multiple systems to collect the data.

One serious but rare adverse effect that has been identified is a blood clotting problem called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) that has occurred in a very small number of people vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. It occurs at a rate of about 3.83 cases per million Janssen doses and has resulted in a small number of deaths. When that problem was first noted in early April 2021, use of that vaccine was stopped for almost two weeks while it was further studied. After deciding that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweighed its known and potential risks, the FDA and CDC recommended resuming its use in the United States.

However, because of a later risk-benefit analysis of post-vaccination TTS and other blood clotting disorders, the FDA has limited the use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine. The J&J COVID-19 vaccine should only be given to individuals 18 years and older whom other authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate and who would otherwise not receive a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, visit Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Overview and Safety.

To date, very few cases of TTS in people who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Moderna) have been reported to VAERS. Based on available data, this number is not greater than the background rate of this problem and there is not an increased risk for TTS after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. For additional information on this topic, visit the CDC webpage

There have been rare reports of myocarditis or pericarditis among people ages 30 and younger who received COVID-19 vaccine. Most patients responded well to rest and quickly recovered. More information on this topic can be found on CDC’s Myocarditis and Pericarditis After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination webpage.

CDC and FDA are monitoring reports of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in people who have received the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. GBS is a rare disorder where the body’s immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS, but some have permanent nerve damage. These cases have largely been reported about 2 weeks after vaccination and mostly in men, many 50 years and older.

Given the ongoing risk of serious complications, hospitalizations, and even deaths (including deaths of children) from COVID-19 illness, and given the rarity of serious adverse effects, CDC and VDH continue to strongly recommend being up to date on COVID-19 vaccination for anyone six (6) months of age or older.

For additional information, you can also visit the CDC page at Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination

Is COVID-19 vaccine likely to have an important impact on reproduction? (Last updated 8/17/21)

No. Such effects on reproduction have NOT been seen and are unlikely to occur after COVID-19 vaccination.

Sometimes people who are concerned about vaccines or vaccination raise a wide range of various reproduction and fertility questions as part of their concerns.

First, there is no genetic material in any of the current COVID-19 vaccines so there is no risk of a COVID-19 vaccine changing the DNA of any vaccine recipient or that person’s children.

Studies have been published about temporary post-vaccination changes in women’s menstrual cycles. However, short-term changes in menstrual cycles can occur associated with almost any stress, infection, weight changes, dietary changes (including a diet high in soy), excess exercise, or sleep problems. A review of the vaccine-menstrual cycle study data and a summary of the overall vaccine-menstrual cycle question are both available. None of these studies suggested any impact on fertility and, not surprisingly, similar reports about changes in duration and flow of menstrual cycles have been noted after COVID-19 illness.

Also, people now using hormonal birth control (pills, patch, ring, implant, etc.) can receive any of the current COVID-19 vaccines.

One recent study found no increase in the risk of miscarriages in the pregnancies of fully vaccinated women.

As noted elsewhere, there is no reason to withhold COVID 19 vaccine from women who are intending to get pregnant, are currently pregnant, are post-partum, and/or are breastfeeding. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine prior to or during pregnancy can protect you, your fetus, and your infant from severe COVID-19 illness.

In summary, no negative fertility effects have been found for any current U.S. COVID-19 vaccine and there is no biologic reason to suspect that COVID-19 vaccines might have an effect on female or male fertility.

A review of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in terms of fertility and sexual function was published in the Scientific American magazine.

For people who are considering COVID-19 vaccination at the same time they are considering having a baby, additional useful information can be found on CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding webpage.

How do I register myself or my child for v-safe? (Last updated 12/22/20)

When should we get the second dose of a two-dose or three-dose primary series of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine? (Last updated 6/30/22)

For currently available COVID-19 vaccines, what is the difference between being “Up to Date” and being “fully vaccinated”? (Last updated 6/22/22)

“Fully vaccinated” still means that (1) a person has received two doses (three doses if Pfizer 6mo– 4yrs) of the original series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine OR the Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine OR that the person has received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson (also known as Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine AND (2) that at least 14 days have passed since the last vaccine dose was received.

However, being “fully vaccinated” will NOT provide as much COVID-19 protection as being “Up to Date”. Being Up to Date with COVID-19 vaccination goes a step beyond being Fully Vaccinated to include any person who has received ALL recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses for their age, including both their primary vaccine series and any booster dose(s) as soon as they are eligible.

Anyone 5 through 17 years of age or older who received a primary vaccine series with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is recommended to stay Up to Date by getting a booster dose of that same vaccine once five months have passed since their second primary series dose. Anyone 18 years of age and older who completed a COVID-19 vaccination series with any mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is recommended to stay Up to Date by getting a booster dose with any FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine once five (5) months have passed since their second primary series dose. People who received the single-dose Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine should get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine booster dose once two (2) months have passed since their initial Johnson and Johnson vaccine dose.

According to a CDC note about the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, “Data from South Africa and the United Kingdom demonstrate that vaccine effectiveness against [Omicron] infection for two doses of an mRNA vaccine is approximately 35%. A COVID-19 vaccine booster dose restores vaccine effectiveness against infection to 75%.” So for Omicron variants, the benefit of being Up to Date by getting a booster dose is clear.

To maximize protection against the Omicron variants of COVID-19, even if someone has already met the earlier definition of “fully vaccinated”, for optimal protection, they should still stay Up to Date on recommended COVID-19 booster vaccinations.

See the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule.

What additional precautions should my children and I continue to take once we are up to date with COVID-19 vaccination? (Last updated 2/28/22)

Regardless of community transmission levels, VDH recommends everyone to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, and to increase ventilation in indoor spaces.

Knowing the COVID-19 Community Level in your area will help you know what additional prevention measures to take.

Mask guidance:

People with COVID-19 symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
In areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is
- Low: Wear a mask based on your personal preference and your level of risk of developing severe illness.
- Medium: Wear a mask based on your personal preference, your level of risk, and the risk of the people you live or spend time with.
- High:
  - Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should wear a mask indoors in public in areas where the COVID-19 Community Levels is high.
  - People at increased risk should wear a mask or respirator that provides them with greater protection, like an N95 or KN95.
  - People with weakened immune systems or who are at increased risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about what extra precautions, like masks, they may need.
People may choose to mask at any time.

Testing guidance:

At all COVID-19 Community Levels, get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or after you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
People with weakened immune systems or who are at increased risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about testing recommendations, regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level.
At Medium or High Community Levels: If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease, you should consider self-testing to detect infection before contact.

People with weakened immune systems or otherwise at increased risk for severe illness:

These individuals should talk to their healthcare provider about what extra precautions they may need, including masking, testing, or early treatment recommendations.
- Treatments work best when started early, so rapid access to testing is critical for people at increased risk, in addition to other layers of prevention.
At high COVID-19 Community Levels, people should avoid non-essential indoor activities.

Will being up to date against COVID-19 reduce the risk that we could infect others if we get infected with COVID-19? (Last updated 7/31/22)

Where can I find travel guidance, for travel outside the United States? (Last updated 6/23/22)

I had my recommended booster dose of a current mRNA COVID-19 vaccine a few weeks ago. Should I have a serology (antibody) test to be sure that the vaccine is working to protect me? (Last updated 1/30/22)

Is there guidance available for people vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines not authorized in the United States? (Last updated 6/7/22)

I received an email about COVID-19 vaccination appearing to come from the Virginia Department of Health but it seems suspicious. What should I do? (Last updated 10/29/21)

If I am recommended for a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose now, should I wait for an Omicron-specific vaccine booster dose? (Last updated 7/1/22)

I was vaccinated abroad with a World Health Organization (WHO)-authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Should I get a booster dose? (Last updated 6/22/22)

Do booster dose recommendations mean that the COVID-19 vaccines are not working? (Last updated 3/28/22)

Do I need to show proof of prior vaccination, to get a booster dose in Virginia? (Last updated 9/24/21)

Is the immune response from staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations different from the initial immune response generated by natural infection? (Last updated 7/31/22)

For COVID-19 vaccination, we have antibody, vaccine safety, and vaccine effectiveness data and we also have vaccine boosters of proven effectiveness (including against severe disease caused by the Omicron variant) to address decreasing immunity over time. Vaccination can ensure the optimal degree of population protection against the Omicron variant and against other future variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

A CDC study shows that even among persons with previous COVID-19 infection, receipt of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine provided additional protection against subsequent COVID-19 hospitalization. The highest level of protection was provided by a booster vaccine dose.

Before the Omicron variant, both natural immunity and immunity from COVID-19 vaccine appeared adequate to prevent another infection for at least several months and to ensure that those infections that occurred were milder than initial natural infections might be. However, with Omicron (a more infectious variant), booster doses are essential for optimal protection.

The Omicron variant and its BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 sub-variants have the ability to at least partially evade both (1) the antibodies produced after natural infection with a prior variant and (2) the antibodies produced after current COVID-19 vaccines.

However, with Omicron infections, the other part of the immune system, the cell-mediated (T-cell) immunity helps to provide some of the observed protection against the severity of COVID-19 re-infection seen after both vaccination and after natural infection.

Vaccination is the safest way to get consistent protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Being up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including being boosted when eligible, provides protection against severe outcomes caused by the variants. Natural infection alone can provide some protection, though less against Omicron compared to previous variants. With an initial natural infection, there is also added risk of developing complications with infection or Long-covid. The risk of Long-covid is lower if an individual is up to date with COVID-19 vaccination.

For more information visit the CDC website.

What is hybrid immunity? (Last updated 7/31/22)

After a natural infection, how long can I wait to get a booster dose ? (Last updated 4/27/22)

How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine will I need to be fully protected by hybrid immunity? (Last updated 4/12/22)

How should healthcare providers administering the COVID-19 vaccine report this information back to VDH? (Last updated 1/5/21)

I work in a doctor’s office, pharmacy, or other healthcare office. Can I administer the COVID-19 vaccine at my practice? (Last updated 12/22/20)

As a healthcare provider, how can I learn more about the vaccines and administering them? (Last updated 6/24/22)

How can healthcare providers or health departments request a consultation for a complex COVID-19 vaccine safety question? (Last updated 5/13/21)

How should healthcare providers report vaccine administration errors? (Last updated 2/12/21)

How do I find the expiration date of the different COVID-19 Vaccine Brands? (Last updated 6/24/22)

Do vaccine providers need to document proof of a qualifying condition before administering an additional primary dose of an mRNA vaccine? (Last updated 5/25/21)

How will additional primary vaccine doses and booster doses be recorded? (Last updated 6/8/21)

Can we vaccinate someone using an unopened Moderna vaccine vial that was thawed yesterday, was not used, and then was put back in the freezer overnight? (Last updated 4/18/22)

Will CVS and Walgreens be offering booster vaccines to LTCFs as previously provided through the Federal pharmacy partnership program? (Last updated 9/28/21)

How can a LTCF access COVID-19 vaccine for their residents and staff if the facility does not have a pharmacy agreement in place? (Last updated 9/28/21)

How do I request vaccine support from the health department? (Last updated 3/20/22)

Am I able to order and receive vaccines to administer at my facility? (Last updated 9/28/21)

How do I encourage my staff to get vaccinated? (Last updated on 9/14/21)

How do resident and staff vaccinations impact the current CMS testing requirements? (Last updated 9/14/21)

If a facility is experiencing an outbreak, can a planned booster clinic proceed as scheduled? (Last updated 2/8/22)

Will I be required to provide proof of age at my child’s COVID-19 vaccination appointment? (Last updated 11/3/21)

What side effects are common in the youngest children (6 months through 5 years) after vaccination? (Last updated 6/22/22)

How do I register my child for v-safe? (Last updated 11/17/21)

I am concerned about my child’s risk of myocarditis and pericarditis from vaccination. Why should I consider vaccinating my child? (Last updated 6/22/22)

My child is on the cusp of an age group for which a different COVID-19 vaccine formulation is recommended. Where can I find guidance on which dose they should receive? (Last updated 6/28/22)

Should my child get the 2-dose Moderna series for children 6 months through 5 years or the 3-dose Pfizer series for children 6 months through 4 years? (Last updated 7/31/22)

Will Virginia public schools require my child to get vaccinated? (Last updated 7/21/21)

Why should I get my child vaccinated? (Last updated 4/20/22)

Is an additional primary dose of a COVID-19 vaccine recommended for people with weakened immune systems? (Last updated 6/22/22)

Yes, for most immunocompromised people.

After completing their primary vaccine series, many moderately or severely immunocompromised people should get an additional primary series shot.

The additional dose should be administered at least 28 days after the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine; or at least 28 days after the single initial dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
- The single exception is for children from six (6) months to five (5) years old who received the three-dose Pfizer-BioNTech primary vaccine series. Their third primary series vaccine dose counts as the additional dose. However, those children should receive a standard Pfizer-BioNTec mRNA vaccine booster dose after their fifth birthday as long as three months have passed since their third (final) primary series dose.

The additional dose should be the same mRNA vaccine as the primary series. For J&J (Janssen) vaccine recipients, the additional dose should be any mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

However, even those people with weakened immune systems who receive an additional dose of an mRNA vaccine still might not have strong protection against COVID-19 after vaccination. These individuals should speak to their healthcare provider about additional prevention measures, including having a plan for testing, or the need for early treatment if infected. In areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is high or medium, people at increased risk should wear a mask or respirator that provides them with greater protection, like an N95 or KN95 and may choose to avoid nonessential indoor activities.

Their household members, friends, and other close contacts who are vaccine-eligible should get up to date on COVID-19 vaccination to help provide maximal protection to their immunocompromised loved ones and colleagues.
The individuals (5 years and older) who already received a three-dose mRNA COVID-19 primary vaccine series should also get a first booster dose (at least 3 months after completing their third primary dose), for a total of four vaccine doses.
The individuals who received a Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine primary dose followed by one additional mRNA dose, should receive one mRNA vaccine booster dose (at least 2 months after completing their additional dose), for a total of three vaccine doses.

People ages 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after the first booster dose. This would be a fifth dose for people who completed an mRNA vaccine primary series and a fourth dose for people who completed the J&J (Janssen) initial shot.

The American College of Rheumatology has guidelines around vaccination timing for people with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions as well as recommendations for which medications should be paused when patients get the vaccine. Other guidance is available from the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and the American Society of Transplantation and other transplantation groups. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has released a set of COVID-19 FAQs.

See the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule.

Will I need to show proof that I have a moderate or severe immunocompromising condition to get the additional dose? (Last updated 8/27/21)

I was vaccinated abroad. Can I get an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose in the United States if I am immunocompromised? (Last updated 2/14/22)

I have a weakened immune system because of medicines I am taking after my organ transplant. After I am fully vaccinated, or receive a third (additional) dose or booster dose, should I have my COVID-19 antibodies measured with a serology test to make sure that I have responded to the COVID-19 vaccine? (Last updated 4/12/22)

How do I obtain a copy of my or my child’s COVID-19 vaccine record? (Last updated 8/3/22)

What information is in my COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR Code?

What if the COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR Code is not found? (Last updated 9/14/21)

What if the COVID-19 Vaccination Record is incorrect? (Last updated 9/14/21)

What is the COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR Code? (Last updated 8/4/22)

What should I do with my COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR Code? (Last updated 8/4/22)

Am I required to get a COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR code? (Last updated 9/14/21)

How does the COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR code protect my privacy? (Last updated 5/32/22)

How can I obtain the COVID-19 Vaccination Record QR code for myself or my child? What about records of vaccinations other than COVID-19? (Last updated 8/4/22)

Am I required to show my vaccination record to anyone? (Last updated 8/4/22)

I just received a COVID-19 vaccination dose. When will this show up in my COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR code? (Last updated 5/28/22)

How can businesses and employers use the COVID-19 Vaccination Record with QR Code to verify the vaccination status of their patrons or employees? (Last updated 9/14/21)

Can I verify or test the QR code of my COVID-19 Vaccination Record myself? ? (Last updated 5/31/22)

Non-immunocompromised Individual	Immunocompromised Individual	Recorded in Vase+, VAMS, and PrepMod as:
Primary Series #1	Primary Series #1	First Dose
Primary Series #2	Primary Series #2	Second Dose
Booster #1	Primary Series #3	Third Dose
Booster #2	Booster #1	Fourth Dose
	Booster #2	Fifth Dose

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Vaccination: Virginia COVID Information Center (VCIC) General Information

Vaccination: How To Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccination: Why Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Vaccination: Vaccine Development + Safety

Vaccination: Side Effects and Adverse Events After COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccination: Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccinations

Vaccination: Natural Immunity

Vaccination: Healthcare Providers

Vaccination: Long-Term Care Facilities

Vaccination: Children

Vaccination: People with Weakened Immune Systems

Vaccination: Records