Last updated: December 6th, 2021

 

You may find vaccine locations online or call Member Services at 1-888-778-1478 (TTY/TDD 711)*.

 

What We Know About COVID-19 Vaccines

• The vaccines are safe and effective at protecting you from COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. The Pfizer vaccine has been formally approved by the Food and Drug Administration—confirming that it is no longer considered “early” or experimental.
• Unvaccinated people are much more likely to become ill with COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself and others is to get vaccinated.
• Newer variants may be more infectious than earlier forms of the coronavirus. If you are fully vaccinated and become infected, it is still  possible for you to spread the virus to others. You should continue to wear a mask in public when in areas of high or substantial transmission.
• Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for all adults, because vaccination immune response naturally weakens over time and variants are circulating. Please refer to the latest booster eligibility criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What We Are Still Learning About the COVID-19 Vaccine

• How long they protect people
• How well they protect people with weakened immune systems
• How effective the vaccines will be against newer variants that may arise

Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine

Will I be charged when I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

You can get your COVID-19 vaccine at no cost at a location that is most convenient for you—don’t wait.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine really work?

Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine continues to reduce your risk of getting sick. The vaccines are highly effective against severe illness, but newer variants of the coronavirus may be more infectious and spread faster than earlier forms of the virus. Those who are fully vaccinated are protected from developing serious disease.

Should I still get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have serious underlying conditions?

The COVID-19 vaccine has been tested and shown to be effective and well-tolerated by patients with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. If you are receiving active treatments that suppress your immune system, such as medications for organ transplants, active cancer treatments, or management of autoimmune diseases, then COVID-19 vaccination is still recommended. However, in these cases the timing of when and how you receive the vaccine should be coordinated with your doctor.

When will I be protected after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna (mRNA) vaccine, or
• 2 weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

Booster vaccine doses are also recommended for COVID-19 vaccine recipients:

• Please refer to the latest booster eligibility criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• For adults who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses are recommended at least 6 months after their second dose.
• For all who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster doses are recommended at least two months after their first dose.
• Eligible individuals can mix-and-match in choosing which vaccine booster to get. For example, if your first vaccine was Johnson & Johnson, you may choose to get the Moderna vaccine as your booster.

If I’ve already had COVID-19, do I still need the vaccine?

Even if you’ve already had COVID-19 infection, studies so far indicate that the immune response from the vaccine is stronger and longer lasting. The CDC recommends vaccination even for those who have already had COVID-19. You should wait 14 days after COVID-19 infection, or 90 days if you received COVID-19 antibody treatment, prior to being vaccinated. We are still learning how long immune protections from natural infection or a vaccine will last, but so far, it appears that natural infection immunity may only last several months.

Are there side effects from the vaccine?

You may have side effects after you receive your vaccine, but these are normal and should go away within a few days. Vaccines cannot give you COVID-19.

Is this a hoax? Am I part of an experiment?

All of the evidence supports how effective and safe the vaccine is, and this is confirmed by formal approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Especially for those over age 65 or who have chronic medical conditions, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. In addition to causing death, there are serious long-term side effects from COVID-19, including heart, brain, and kidney damage—and we are not seeing those same long-term effects as a result of the vaccine. We strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all of our members.

How will life change once I’m fully vaccinated?

Life will become more social as more of us become fully vaccinated. Every vaccinated person helps slow the spread of the virus and is protected from serious disease.

Once you are fully vaccinated, you can resume visiting with your vaccinated friends and family members with greater safety without mask use. You will still be required to wear a mask in medical care settings; transportation hubs, such as airports; and on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation. In many areas of high or substantial transmission, you will be required to continue mask use, especially indoors.

You should continue to be careful in public crowds and in poorly ventilated spaces. You should also continue to watch out for symptoms of COVID-19. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others. 
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Stories

Clover staff have shared their personal accounts of getting the vaccine in the videos linked below.