RCAHD COVID-19 Vaccine

Who can get a booster vaccine?

VDH recommends individuals who are 12 and older receive booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

• For individuals aged 12 to 17 years old, a Pfizer booster dose is recommended 5 months following completion of a Pfizer primary series
• For individuals ages 18 years and older, any COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended 5 months following completion of a Pfizer or Moderna primary series
• For individuals ages 18 years and older, any COVID-19 vaccine booster is recommended 2 months following completion of a primary J&J dose

Eligible individuals 18 years and older may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose.

For booster vaccines, CDC has stated that use of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) are preferable to Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Talk with your health care provider to see which booster is right for you.

Are children aged 5 years and up eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children and adolescents age 5 and up. Appointments will be available at the Community Vaccination Center, Health Department clinics, and several community vaccine clinics. Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is also available at local pharmacies and some pediatric provider offices.

Who is eligible to receive a third dose vaccine?

• Those receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood,
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system,
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome),
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection,
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

When can I receive a second dose of the vaccine?

In most cases, you will schedule your second dose appointment after receiving your first injection. Everyone should receive two doses of vaccine in order to have maximum protection against the virus.

• Pfizer Second Dose: 21 days after the first dose
• Moderna Second Dose: 28 days after the first dose

NOTE: there is no known loss of efficacy as long as the second dose is received within six weeks of receiving the first dose.

What are the potential side effects of the vaccine?

Because COVID-19 vaccines are so new, information on long term side-effects is still incomplete.

However, while we do not yet know all of the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination, some people in the trials have had arm pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, or other body aches and some had a fever for a few days. These expected side effects are more common in younger people than older people and more common after the 2nd vaccine dose than after the first dose. This short-term discomfort is the effect of your body developing immunity, and is normal. This discomfort does not mean that the vaccine has given you COVID-19. Even if you experience discomfort after the first dose of the vaccine, it is very important that you still receive the second dose a few weeks later for the vaccine to be effective.

On the other hand, it is possible that a few COVID-19 vaccine recipients may already be getting infected with COVID-19 at the time they get the vaccine but are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 infection. If they later have symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for it soon after vaccination, that does not mean they got COVID-19 from the vaccine.

How can I receive a vaccine if I am homebound?

Homebound residents in Alleghany, Botetourt, Covington, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem: If you or a loved one is unable to leave your house due to significant mobility challenges, call our hotline between 9am-4pm Monday to Friday to request an in-home delivery of vaccine. 540-613-6597

Is the vaccine available from Local Pharmacies, Doctor Offices, or Medical Providers?

To search for all COVID-19 vaccine availability, visit www.vaccines.gov. This website helps you find clinics, pharmacies, and other locations that offer COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.

More Frequently Asked Questions at VDH.gov

For more Frequently Asked Questions and answers, visit the VDH Vaccination FAQ.