The supply of COVID-19 vaccine has been increasing as have the number of distribution sites within states and communities. Most QuadMed health centers have applied to be vaccination sites and we have followed the steps identified by the CDC and state guidelines to be prepared to vaccinate. However, QuadMed access to vaccine is not guaranteed and is largely determined by state and federal distribution decisions. We strongly recommend that you monitor distribution sites near you and get the vaccine wherever you are able. Use this link (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html) for the latest updates in your area. 

The supply of COVID-19 vaccine has been increasing and as of April 19, 2021 everyone age 16 and older is eligible to receive the vaccine.  Use this Vaccine Finder link (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html) for the latest updates in your area.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.
However, if any of the following apply to you, you may be asked to postpone your vaccine, and discuss your situation with your primary care provider.

• You were treated with COVID-19 antibodies in the past 90 days
• You received any other vaccinations within the past 2 weeks
• You are allergic to polysorbate or polyethylene glycol (PEG), two components of the COVID-19 vaccine commonly found in medications such as laxatives and preparations for colonoscopies

COVID-19 vaccines, like other vaccines, help your body develop the ability to fight an illness by preparing your immune system to quickly recognize and fight the virus if and when you are exposed. This is done by giving your body a non-infectious part of the virus in the vaccine so you can prepare to fight it without having to get infected.

Two of the vaccines currently being distributed – Pfizer and Moderna – require two shots given 21 to 28 days apart to be fully effective. The Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine only requires one dose.

Most QuadMed health centers have enrolled to become a participating COVID-19 vaccine program provider. However, that does not guarantee that we will have access to vaccine on a consistent basis. For that reason, we encourage you to not only reach out to your QuadMed provider, but monitor other locations in your community that are providing vaccinations by visiting the VaccineFinder.

It is important to note that the COVID-19 vaccine is your best bet to protect yourself and others around you from the virus. A vaccine, however, does not replace the need to continue other actions to stop the spread of this illness and keep everyone healthy. It will take many months to provide vaccines to everyone who needs or wants it. You should continue to wear masks, wash your hands often and social distance (at least 6 feet) to best protect yourself, your loved ones and the public.

QuadMed will accept any of the three approved vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. The vaccine available may vary by health center location.

Our medical team recommends that individuals get vaccinated as quickly as possible with the first available vaccine, regardless of the type. All three vaccines have demonstrated efficacy against the virus.

In order to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, QuadMed had to complete a rigorous readiness assessment and demonstrate our ability to safely administer the vaccines according to CDC and state and federal guidelines. QuadMed ensures a safe vaccination experience which includes having a medical provider onsite, proper pre-screening of individuals prior to vaccination and a mandatory 15-minute observation period following vaccination.

No. The cost for the vaccine itself will be covered by the federal government via funding authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Potential pain and swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, tiredness and/or headache. Most side effects are normal as your body is building protection against the virus. Read more here.

According to the CDC, it takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. You should continue using all recommended safety steps, like wearing a mask and social distancing, to protect yourself and others until this pandemic comes to its conclusion.

Yes. The protection someone gains from being infected by a virus (called “natural immunity”) varies depending on the disease, and it varies from person to person. Because this virus is new, we don’t know how long natural immunity might last. The vaccine will help the body have a longer and stronger ability to fight the disease in the future.

Herd immunity means that enough people in a community are protected from getting a disease because they’ve already had the disease or because they’ve been vaccinated. Herd immunity makes it hard for the disease to spread from person to person, and it even protects those who cannot be vaccinated, like newborns or people who are allergic to the vaccine. The percentage of people who need to have protection to achieve herd immunity varies by disease.

Experts do not yet know what percentage of people would need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19. CDC and other experts are studying herd immunity and will provide more information as it is available.

According to the CDC, if you’ve been fully vaccinated, you can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask. You can also gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.

You should still take steps to protect yourself and others in many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Take these precautions whenever you are: in public, gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household or visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk.

You should discuss your situation with your primary care provider. However, if any of the following apply to you, you may be asked to postpone your vaccine.

• You were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 90 days
• You were treated with COVID-19 antibodies in the past 90 days
• You received any other vaccinations within the past 2 weeks
• You are allergic to polysorbate or polyethylene glycol (PEG), two components of the COVID-19 vaccine commonly found in medications such as laxatives and preparations for colonoscopies

No. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.

Messenger RNA vaccines—also called mRNA vaccines—are the first COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States. mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the mRNA cannot affect or interact with our DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop immunity to disease.

The CDC is continuing to investigate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Scientists also are working to learn about new variants of the virus. More studies are needed to understand how new variants may affect the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 vaccines.