FAQ - COVID-19 Vaccines
as of 12/09/2022

VACCINE IS RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE AGED 6 MONTHS+

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) now recommended that all individuals aged 6 months to 4 years old get the COVID-19 vaccine, and those aged 5 and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine primary series and booster dose. The CDC also expanded the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months-5 years. Children ages 6 months through 5 years who previously completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster 2 months after their final primary series dose. Children ages 6 months through 4 years who are currently completing a Pfizer primary series will receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose. 

Which vaccine is my child between the ages of 6 months - 5 years old able to receive?
Both Moderna and Pfizer is available for children ages 6 months+

What are the differences between Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for children ages 6 months+?
 

 Moderna 

Pfizer 
Age 6 months - 5 years old 
 6 months - 4 years old 
Schedule 2 doses: 4 weeks apart. Third dose (bivalent booster) can be administered after at least 2 months after 2nd dose
3 doses: first 2 doses are administered 3 weeks apart followed by a third dose administered at least 8 weeks after the second dose
Dose 25 micrograms
 3 micrograms
Efficacy  37 percent for children 2 to 5 years old; 51 percent for children 6 months to 2 years old
 76 percent for children 6 months to 2 years old; 82 percent for children 2 to 4 years old
Common Side Effects Pain at the injection site, sleepiness, loss of appetite
 Pain at the injection site, irritability, drowsiness


Where can my child receive their COVID-19 vaccine?
Call your child's doctor and ask if they are able to administer the vaccine. If you do not have a regular doctor or insurance, call Help Me Grow Solano at (844) 501-5437.


PEDIATRIC COVID-19 VACCINES

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Western States Safety Review Workgroup recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months and up. over 90% effective at preventing COVID-19 in children within this age group. This recommendation was made based on in-depth review of available safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy data. After getting the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, children may have some side effects like those seen in adults and with other vaccines. These are normal signs that their body is building protection, but they should go away in a few days.

Do children younger than 12 years old need to be vaccinated?
With many children back in school and participating in extracurricular activities, COVID-19 vaccination among children ages 5 through 11 years is critical to preventing infection and possible severe disease, as well as reducing the spread of COVID-19. While fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus, and there is no way to tell in advance if a child will get a severe or mild case.

How does dosage work for children? 
Children get a smaller dose of COVID-19 vaccine than teens and adults based on their age group. Children ages 5 through 11 will receive an age-appropriate dose that is one-third of what adolescents and adults receive. Smaller needles, designed specifically for children, are used for children ages 5 through 11 years. COVID-19 vaccine dosage does not vary by patient weight but by age on the day of vaccination. Children are still required to get two doses three weeks apart to be considered fully vaccinated.

Is this Pfizer vaccine the same one that is given to adolescents and adults?
The Pfizer vaccine for children ages 6 months through 11 has the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to
adults and adolescents. However, the vaccine for children comes in a different vial with a different color cap,
and the dosage for this age group is one-third of the dosage for adolescents and adults. The vaccine that is
given to adults and adolescents cannot be used for children ages 5 through 11 years.

Is it safe to co-administer COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines, like flu?
Yes, if a patient is eligible, both flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same visit, as
recommended by CDC. In addition to flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine can be given with other vaccines as well.

Is there an increased vaccination risk to children who have pre-existing conditions like asthma?
Youth aged 5 and up can still receive the COVID-19 vaccine even if they have health conditions. Talk to
your doctor or clinic about your child’s specific conditions.

Will children have to get vaccinated to attend in-person schooling?
Students will be required to be vaccinated for in-person learning starting the term following FDA full
approval of the vaccine for their grade span (7-12 and K-6). The COVID-19 vaccine will be added to the
list of already required vaccinations for school, including vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella and
more.

COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT

Updated (bivalent) booster shots are now available for everyone ages six months and older who have completed their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Everyone ages 6 months to 17 years old should receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster dose at least 2 months after completing their primary vaccination series. 
  • Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot either 2 months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series or 2 months after their initial J&J vaccine. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend a booster dose in children ages 5-11 years old. As more data becomes available, this recommendation may be updated.  

Is a booster dose the same amount of vaccine as doses in the original vaccine series?
The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson booster doses will be the same dosage as the original vaccine received in the series, while the Moderna booster dose will be half the dosage compared to the original vaccine series.

Can you mix and match the vaccines?
For the primary series, no. It's recommended to use the same product for all following primary series doses.

In terms of getting a booster from a different product than your primary series, yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers it safe to receive a booster of either the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

For example, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine recipients 18 years and older may receive a single booster of the J&J or Pfizer, or a booster dose of Moderna (half dose) at least two months after receiving their J&J primary vaccination.

In another example, Moderna and Pfizer vaccine recipients falling into one of the authorized categories for boosters may receive a booster dose of Moderna (half dose), Pfizer, or J&J at least six months after completing their primary vaccination.

If we need a booster shot, does that mean that the vaccines aren’t working?
No. COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection, especially among certain populations, against mild and moderate disease.

Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine booster?
Please check the Solano Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information page for more information about vaccination locations within the county. You may also check with your healthcare provider to provide you with additional information about vaccine availability. Qualifying individuals can also schedule an appointment at their nearest pharmacy that administers booster doses. These include Walmart pharmacy, Safeway pharmacy, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. 

Talk to your doctor to see if getting an additional dose is right for you. 

ELIGIBILITY

Who is eligible to be vaccinated?
Anyone 6 months and over who live, attend school or work in Solano County can get vaccinated.

Are vaccines free?
Yes, vaccines are provided for free to anyone living in the United States, regardless of immigration or health insurance status.

How will I know when and where to go?  
Please check the Solano Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information page for more information about vaccination locations within the county. You may also check with your healthcare provider to provide you with additional information about vaccine availability. More clinics can also be found using the state's MyTurn notification and vaccine clinic platform at http://www.myturn.ca.gov/, where you can find more information about vaccine clinics surrounding Solano County.  

How do I know when to come back for the second dose of vaccine?
If you need help scheduling your vaccine appointment for your second shot, contact the location that set up your appointment for assistance. You will be given a CDC vaccine card with additional information including the follow up vaccination. If you received your vaccine through the mass vaccination clinic or popup vaccine clinics hosted by Solano County, please see the list of previous vaccine clinics on the www.solanocounty.com/covidvaccine page for more information. 

SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS

Why should I get vaccinated?
Vaccination is an important tool to help stop the pandemic. It protects you and others by reducing infection and the spread of COVID-19. Together, the vaccine and other public health measures (like wearing a face covering and social distancing) will offer the best protection from COVID-19, reducing further spread so businesses and schools can fully reopen and we can return to a more normal way of life.

Are the vaccines safe and effective?
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. It has undergone tens of thousands of clinical trials, and has met the FDA's rigorous standards for safety needed to support emergency use. Vaccines have a long history of safety and effectiveness. While infrastructure to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines is being scaled up as quickly as possible, routine processes and procedures are in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine that is authorized or approved for use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an independent group of experts that reviews all the safety data as it comes in and provides regular safety updates. The State of California also conducts its own review of the vaccines’ clinical data to ensure they’re safe to use. The CDC, Food and Drug Administration and healthcare providers will continue safety monitoring as more people are vaccinated to learn about any additional vaccine side effects.

How does the vaccine work?
The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are mRNA vaccines, and they do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, they cannot give someone COVID-19. The vaccines do not contain live viruses that could cause infection, are rapidly broken down by the human body after injection and do not interact with or affect with a person's DNA. The vaccines use messenger RNA to teach the body's own cells to produce antibodies to protect itself from COVID-19. Both vaccines require two doses over a three- to four-week period.

The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine, meaning it uses a modified version of a different virus to deliver important instructions to our cells.

What are the side effects?
Common side effects include pain and swelling on the injection site and fever, chills, tiredness and headache throughout the rest of the body. These side effects are normal signs that the body is building protections. These side effects may affect the ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Both Pfizer and Moderna have created fact sheets that include common side effects and other information you should know:

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
Get the Facts on Vaccines Fact Sheet

If I am pregnant, can I still receive the vaccine?
If you are pregnant, you may choose to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Based on how the vaccines work in the body, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a specific risk for people who are pregnant. You may want to have a conversation with your healthcare provider to help you decide whether to get vaccinated with a vaccine that has been authorized for use under Emergency Use Authorization. However, there are currently limited data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant people.  

What happens if I miss or am late for the second dose of the series? 
If you miss your second dose appointment, you should reschedule as soon as possible. The CDC recommends following recommended guidelines, but if this is not feasible, the second dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can be administered up to six weeks after the first one. Both doses are needed for full protection. A single dose conveys a lower degree of protection from the virus than two doses. There is no reason to schedule a third dose if the second is received late.

Can I take my dose early if I have a scheduling conflict?
The CDC indicates that it is safe to administer vaccines up to four days early. Anything beyond that should be considered an error and reported (to your healthcare provider or directly to the Vaccine Adverse Event  Reporting System).

What if I get infected with COVID-19 after the first dose of vaccine but before the second one? Will I need to wait and retake the first dose or just get the second?
There is no need to retake the first dose. Self-isolate for 10 days from symptom onset or from the testing date if you are asymptomatic. Schedule your second dose appointment after the self-isolation period is complete.

Can you get COVID-19 after being vaccinated? What are breakthrough infections?
Yes, there is a chance of contracting COVID-19 after being vaccinated. A breakthrough infection is an infection with a virus, bacterium, or other germ after you have been vaccinated. This is an expected occurrence for a small percentage of those who are vaccinated, since no vaccine is 100% effective. Research shows that people who are boosted have additional protection, reducing their risk of getting infected.

How can I prevent a breakthrough COVID-19 infection?
Solano County Public health advises that everyone gets vaccinated and boosted. Regardless of vaccination status, continue to follow all safety precautions (masking, social distancing and hand hygiene) while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Avoid indoor gatherings, especially when many people are present, mask-wearing is inconsistent, or ventilation is poor. The basic coronavirus precautions are effective in lowering your chances of becoming infected with the coronavirus, even after you have been fully vaccinated.

FULLY VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS

What can fully vaccinated individuals do after getting vaccinated?
People are considered fully vaccinated once it has been two weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series, or 2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine.
Fully vaccinated people can:

  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic
  • Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel (unless required by the destination)
  • Refrain from testing before leaving the U.S. for international travel (unless required by the destination)

How long is the protection from the COVID-19 vaccine?
We are still unsure of the length of the protection for the vaccines. Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity to the COVID-19 virus.