Sometimes we feel embarrassed to ask questions we think we should know the answers to. We’ve all been there.
Or perhaps you just don’t have the time to scour the internet for Covid vaccine information. Whatever the case, we’re bringing the answers in this FAQ.
Do I have to pay for a Covid shot in Connecticut?
Covid shots are free regardless of insurance coverage or immigration status.
Do I have to get two shots?
For two of the vaccines available, you will need to get two shots. According to the CDC:
With both COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, you will need two shots to get the most protection. The timing between your first and second shot depends on which vaccine you received.
Pfizer-BioNTech doses should be given 3 weeks (21 days) apart
Moderna doses should be given 1 month (28 days) apart
You should get your second shot as close to the recommended 3-week or 1-month interval as possible. However, your second dose may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.
A third vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, has just been approved by the F.D.A., and that will require receiving only one shot. That vaccine has just started being administered.
What if I don’t take the second shot after getting the first?
It won’t be nearly as effective and offer a more limited protection. Not only that, if you don’t get the second dose within the recommended time frame, that also could diminish its effectiveness.
According to an article from Quartz, “This is because the first time immune cells encounter a potential threat, they need a few weeks to rev up their defensive engines and get their antibodies in gear. That’s why the first dose of the vaccine is called a priming dose: It’s like an immunological meet-and-greet. By the time of the second shot, the ‘boosting dose,’ immune cells are already familiar with the general idea of the threat; they just need to fine-tune their antibody response to promote even stronger protection.”
Will I have a bad reaction after the shot?
It varies among recipients, however, there are cases where people feel, let’s just be blunt, lousy after the shot. However, this should only last a day or so.
The CDC’s official statement on it is that, “After getting vaccinated, you may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. In addition, you may have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.”
Will the current vaccines protect me against the new Covid variants?
Dr. Anthony Faucci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says, “When you get a variant that diminishes the capability of the vaccine, when you get a good vaccine...you cannot necessarily get the best possible response, but it's still within the cushion of effectiveness."
In other words, it will still be effective and is better than having no protection at all. The vaccine developers are already looking into a booster shot people can take to help fight against the new virus mutations.
I’m not concerned if I get Covid. Shouldn’t just those who are afraid of getting Covid take it?
Experts agree that diminishing the virus’ ability to mutate depends on society reaching a level of herd immunity.
“Let’s say we get 75 percent, 80 percent of the population vaccinated,” Fauci says. “If we do that, if we do it efficiently enough over the second quarter of 2021, by the time we get to the end of the summer, i.e., the third quarter, we may actually have enough herd immunity protecting our society that as we get to the end of 2021, we can approach very much some degree of normality that is close to where we were before.”
So, if you want to get back to normal, we all have to do our part in this fight against the virus.