Who Can Get The Covid
People 12 and older can get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. People 18 or older can get the Moderna or J& J COVID-19 vaccines. You can get your shot at a local pharmacy, clinic, or vaccination center. Go to vaccines.gov to find a location. The vaccine is free to everyone.
Do not take over-the-counter pain medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen before getting a COVID-19 vaccine to reduce side effects. Taking the over-the-counter pain medicines or anti-inflammatories may stop the vaccine from working as it should and reduce its ability to make antibodies. Talk with your doctor about taking pain medicines after you get the shot.
If you get another type of vaccine , make sure you wait 14 days before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you get allergy shots , talk with your allergist if your shot schedule overlaps with getting the COVID-19 shot. There are no data on allergy shots and the COVID-19 vaccine at this time. But to help reduce confusion if you have local reactions or side effects, it may help to spread these out by a couple days.
The following people can get a COVID-19 vaccine:
Your doctor may need to give you more information about the vaccine depending on your condition.
If you have a history of severe allergic reactions , you may be monitored up to 30 minutes after the shot. For everyone else, you will be monitored for 15 minutes after the shot.
If you have a reaction to the first dose of an mRNA vaccine , talk with your doctor about your options.
Should People With Asthma Who Use Inhaled Corticosteroids Oral Corticosteroids Or Biologics Get The Covid
People with asthma who use inhaled corticosteroids can get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology . There is no evidence to indicate that taking low or moderate doses of inhaled corticosteroids for asthma weaken the immune system and impact the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.
People with asthma who take oral corticosteroids can get the COVID-19 vaccine, ACAAI says. However, more research is needed to understand the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine as there is a potential for a reduced immune response. It may depend on the patients daily dose and how long the patient has been on oral corticosteroids.
People who are on biologics for asthma can get the vaccine, but its recommended there be a 1-7 day waiting period between injections, according to ACAAI. Contact your doctor before getting the vaccine.
Why Is It Important To Get The Vaccine If You Have Asthma
To protect yourself from coronavirus infection and to lower your risk of severe symptoms if you do become infected, its important for people with asthma to get the COVID-19 vaccine when eligible. It is important for everyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible, as this is the best path towards preventing severe illness, Dr. Stukus says.
Vaccination also protects others by helping build herd immunity, which controls the spread of the virus. Vaccinating everyone is the pathway toward ending the pandemic, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
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How Many People Are Considered Immunocompromised
Studies estimate that there are about 10 million immunocompromised people in the United States. That figure includes cancer patients, people who have HIV/AIDS and organ transplant recipients, but that doesnt include those who use an immunosuppressant medication to treat an autoimmune disease, making a definitive number difficult to calculate
Other autoimmune diseases, like Type 1 diabetes and lupus, also make people more vulnerable to infections.
How Can Immunocompromised People Be Protected From Covid
In addition to receiving a vaccine, avoiding physical contact is one of the easiest ways to reduce transmission of the coronavirus, according to the CDC. That applies to everyone, including people who are immunocompromised.
Narayan recommends that immunocompromised individuals keep at least 6 feet away from others in the office, at home and when they are in public.
Respiratory droplets are what transfer this virus, and they can land on surfaces both hard and soft, she said. They can land in peoples mucus membranes, which means their eyes, their nose or their mouth.
Narayan said that means sneezing or coughing into your elbow, not sharing drinks or food and not touching other people, including other members of your household.
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Coronavirus Vaccine: What People With Lung Conditions Need To Know
On this page we answer your questions on the coronavirus vaccine and explain what people living with lung conditions need to know.
The vaccines approved for use in the UK have been developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Moderna. A fourth vaccine has also been authorised by the MHRA, developed by Janssen .
You can find out more about the coronavirus vaccine on the NHS website.
Advice for people living with a long-term lung condition, their family or carer
Booking For Someone Else
You can book for someone else online through Book My Vaccine but you’ll need to confirm in one of the questions that you have consent to do this.
You’ll then need to make sure you answer all questions on that person’s behalf .
Bookings are for one person only. If you need to book for someone else, such as a 12- to 15-year-old, you’ll need to make another booking to make sure they can be accommodated.
You can also book for someone else over the phone if you confirm you have the authority to do so.
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Experts Call For Simple And Effective Booking System To Ensure Vulnerable Asthma Patients Arent Overlooked For A Potential Autumn Booster Programme
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Severe asthma sufferers were added to the governments vaccine priority list back in February
Almost 300,000 people with asthma in the UK who were deemed at increased risk from Covid-19 failed to receive their first vaccine dose on time, new estimates show.
Severe asthma sufferers were added to the governments vaccine priority list back in February but by the end of March, an estimated 280,000 people were waiting for a first jab when they should have otherwise been vaccinated.
Two months later, 113,800 individuals from this high-risk group had still yet to receive a vaccine dose, according to a survey commissioned by the charity Asthma UK.
As attention turns to the autumn booster programme, which may see the clinically vulnerable receive a third Covid vaccine dose, Asthma UK has warned that there needs to be a simple and effective booking system in place to ensure severe asthma suffers are not overlooked.
The charity said thousands of people with asthma eligible for inoculation in the early stages of the rollout were missed out because GPs could not find them on their systems using the criteria set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation .
The JCVIs guidance dictated that asthma sufferers who had ever been hospitalised or received three courses of oral steroid tablets over a three-month period should be prioritised for vaccination.
I Have Asthma Is It Safe To Get The Vaccine
People with asthma, including people with severe asthma,should feel confident about accessing these vaccinesalongside other Australians andsome maybeconsidered a priority for the early phases of the rollout. It is important to have these discussions with your treating health professional, so together you candetermineyour options based on yourindividual circumstances.
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Can You Get Sick With Covid
Yes, people can still catch the virus after getting vaccinated. CDC is calling these vaccine breakthrough cases. However, most people who do get COVID-19 post-vaccination develop mild symptoms and are less likely to get hospitalized or die from the virus.
Remember, no vaccine is 100% effective. In clinical trials, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was shown to be 95% effective in preventing symptomatic illness. The Moderna vaccine was shown to be 94.5% effective in preventing symptomatic illness. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, and 85% effective in preventing severe or critical disease.
I Dont Want It To Be Just Me
Freddie, 30, has accepted an appointment for the vaccine at his local surgery in South London on Tuesday. He has used steroids for his asthma, but he has not been hospitalised.
I feel quite emotional that the turning point could be around the corner. However, I dont want it to be just me. I do think teachers and supermarket workers should be prioritised too, he told i.
Hayley, 31, who lives in North London, told i she has also accepted an appointment for the vaccine on the same day, and she has used steroids previously for the condition, but not over a three month period. I want other people to get it too, but I dont want to turn it down either as people with asthma are still at risk.
Victoria, 42, from North Yorkshire, hasnt been so lucky, and is still awaiting her appointment. She has been hospitalised six times for her asthma, and takes daily steroids.
I rang my GP on Tuesday when I read the official criteria that if you have ever had an emergency hospital admission for your asthma that you are eligible for the vaccine, she told i. The GP said this means if you have had a hospital admission for asthma in, sort of, the last year, but she didnt sound totally confident in this definition.
Maggie, 32, who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, has borderline severe asthma, and is currently being investigated for an underlying autoimmune condition due to a series of kidney infections. She was booked in for a jab appointment that has since been rescinded.
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Some Asthmatics Were Instructed To Book An Appointment Amid The Confusion
Needless confusion over prioritising for the Covid-19 vaccine has meant several asthmatics not eligible for the jab have been booked in for an appointment despite a change in guidance.
On Monday, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi announced that asthmatics using an inhaler would be next in line for the jab, prompting several GPs to extend invites to anyone with the condition.
But the Government clarified on Tuesday evening that asthmatics who have had an emergency hospital admission because of their condition, or those who have been prescribed three courses of steroid tablets in a three-month period, will fall into priority group six. For the asthmatics who do not fall into either of these groups and are under the age of 50, they will be vaccinated after the first nine priority groups.
Some asthmatics have now received the jab, others will have to wait until the last phase of the roll-out. People with non-severe asthma are considered by the NHS to be at increased risk from Covid but not at risk of dying from the virus.
Should You Get A Covid
Currently, CDC guidance indicates that the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use can be “safely administered to immunocompromised people, including people with HIV infection or other immunocompromising conditions or people who take immunosuppressive medications or therapies.”
If you’ve already been vaccinated, you’ve likely received special instructions or care notes from your primary care provider whether it’s been dealing with potential side effects during your first round of shots or any medication side effects thereinafter. You’ll need to consult them again about any additional booster shots since it’s likely that additional side effects or symptoms may present at the time of vaccination.
Third booster vaccines will only be available to those who have been previously fully vaccinated. While earning a similar immune response to vaccination compared to those with no preexisting conditions is not guaranteed, per the CDC, officials remain certain that “the potential benefit of COVID-19 vaccination outweighs the uncertainties.”
Immunocompromised individuals will have to stay vigilant about best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19, beyond getting vaccinated, CDC officials stress. “People who are immunocompromised should continue to follow current prevention measures to protect themselves against COVID-19 until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.”
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Information From The Cdc On The Covid
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for the current COVID-19 vaccines. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were the first to be authorized by the FDA. The Pfizer-BioNTech is the first to be approved. They are mRNA-type vaccines. The mRNA vaccines teach your immune system to make a protein that starts an immune process. Your body then produces antibodies that can protect you from COVID-19.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is a shot given in two doses three weeks apart. The Moderna vaccine is also given in two doses about four weeks apart. Based on the clinical trials, you need both doses of these to be fully protected from COVID-19. If you are immunocompromised, it is recommended you get a third dose at least 28 days after your second shot.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only given in one shot. There is no recommendation for an additional or booster dose for the J& J COVID-19 vaccine at this time. It is a viral vector vaccine. It is different than mRNA vaccines. A viral vector vaccine uses a modified version of a different virus to deliver instructions to cells in your body. This triggers your body to create antibodies to SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. You cannot get COVID-19 from this vaccine since it is a modified virus.
None of the vaccines will affect your DNA. These vaccines reduce the chance of getting COVID-19. They can also reduce the severity of your symptoms if you get the disease.
Does Having The Vaccine Prevent Me From Catching The Virus Or Just Becoming Ill With It
All coronavirus vaccines are very effective at reducing your risk of becoming ill with the virus should you get COVID-19.
Its also now known that being vaccinated reduces your risk of becoming infected with the virus. A recent study has shown that fully vaccinated people are three times less likely to be infected with coronavirus. But no vaccine can be perfect so there is a small chance you can still get and spread the virus. So, its important after being vaccinated you continue to follow the guidance on social distancing for the area you live or work in, as well as continuing to regularly wash your hands.
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What Should I Do Until I Get The Vaccine
While you wait to schedule your vaccine appointment, follow all guidance to protect yourself against COVID-19. This includes:
- Keep at least 6 feet away from others and avoid crowds
- Wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
If you have asthma, keep it under control by following your Asthma Action Planand taking your medications as prescribed.
Im Immunosuppressed Is It Safe For Me To Get The Covid
Its safe for people who are immunosuppressed to get the vaccine, but its not clear yet how effective it will be for this group of people. So, if youre immunosuppressed, its very important you continue to take steps to protect yourself from catching the virus, even after youve had the vaccine. Its worth asking those you live with to do these as well.
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Aafa: What Do People With Allergies Need To Know About Vaccine Ingredients And Allergic Reactions
Dr. Matthew Greenhawt: The main ingredient I think people are suspicious of is something called polyethylene glycol or PEG. We eat this. It is in a decent amount of food. Orally this doesnt really cause problems, but injecting it was the one thing that came up and people zeroed in on that.
We have absolutely no causative data. We have absolutely nothing that says this did or didnt cause it. I dont see this as a risk for somebody with food allergy. This could be a general risk for reasons we dont know and that will emerge. Theres no egg. Theres no peanut.
There are a lot of reasons why people can have a reaction to a vaccine. Some of it can be non-allergic. Just because you had an adverse reaction, thats the larger umbrella, and allergy is a specific type of an adverse reaction. It happens through a very specific pathway.
Note: This is just an excerpt from the video. Watch the full video clip for the entire answer.About our experts
- Mitchell H. Grayson, MD, Director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology and Professor of Pediatrics at Nationwide Childrens Hospital and The Ohio State University, Chair of the Medical Scientific Council, and board member for AAFA
- Matthew Greenhawt, MD, Director of the Food Challenge and Research Unit at Childrens Hospital Colorado
- David R. Stukus, MD, Director of the Complex Asthma Clinic and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Ohio
How Can I Look After My Asthma During The Pandemic
One of the most important things you can do right now is to manage your asthma well. You should make sure that youre seeking help when you need it and trying to book your usual appointments .
Some routine appointments may have been postponed, such as annual reviews. But annual reviews are important to ensure your condition is managed as well as possible and lower your risk of an asthma attack. So do book an annual review as soon as you can.
Emergency care
If you are having an asthma attack, this is an emergency. You must follow the steps on your asthma action plan and get your usual emergency care, including going to A& E or calling 999 if you need to.
Care from your GP
Speak to your GP or asthma nurse if you are getting asthma symptoms three or more times a week.
Follow these four asthma management steps to help you keep well:
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