Many Premise Health wellness centers have the COVID-19 vaccines and are doing their part to get our members vaccinated. Now that everyone over the age of 12 can get vaccinated, we plan to continue to obtain and administer the COVID-19 vaccines in accordance with federal, state and manufacturer guidelines. You should reach out to your local wellness center directly to see if it’s available and to schedule an appointment.

Regardless of if/when the COVID-19 vaccine is available at your wellness center, our staff will act as a valuable resource for guidance on the vaccine, as well as continued COVID-19 testing and support.

For the most part, those who are fully vaccinated can begin to resume most pre-pandemic activities. However, to maximize protection against the Delta variant of the virus and to prevent spreading it to others, the CDC recommends that vaccinated individuals wear masks in public indoor spaces while in areas of substantial or high transmission. You can find a map that shows active transmission rates here: covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view. 

Fully vaccinated people will also need to continue to wear a mask while on public transportation, such as trains, planes and buses and where it is required by laws, rules, regulations or local guidance. The CDC recommends wearing a mask regardless of the level of transmission in your area if you or someone in your household is unvaccinated or at an increased risk for severe disease. 

The CDC has published full guidelines for fully vaccinated people and how to choose safer activities. If you are unsure on any of the guidance, have a conversation with your healthcare provider or review the information provided in the CDC guidelines here: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html.   

If you are not fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends that you continue to wear a mask while in public, practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings until you are fully vaccinated. 

Note: If you received your vaccine but have a condition or are taking medications that may weaken your immune system, talk to your provider to discuss safety protocols. You may not be fully protected by the vaccine and may need to keep taking all the safety precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19. You may also be eligible for a third dose if you received an mRNA vaccine.

You likely will not be able to choose the vaccine you receive. It will depend on your local area and what is available there, based on what your state health department can order and distribute. It may also depend on what your local hospital, wellness center or pharmacy can accommodate. However, children ages 12-17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine, so those in that age range will only be able to get an appointment with a site that offers the Pfizer vaccine.

It is important to know that all the vaccines currently available in the U.S. are highly effective, safe and help prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Studies on COVID-19 vaccine safety in young children are still ongoing, so the CDC has not recommended those under the age of 12 get the vaccine at this time. It’s important to note that only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorized by the FDA and the CDC for children 12 years of age and older. The two other authorized vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and Moderna are still only approved for people 18 years and older.

Although the guidance was unclear at first, the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommend that all pregnant individuals get vaccinated. Pregnant individuals are at a significantly higher risk for complications from COVID-19, including hospitalization and risks to the pregnancy.

As of now, experts recommend that all other populations get the COVID-19 vaccine to help slow the spread and ultimately end the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are unsure if you should get vaccinated, talk with your healthcare provider.

Yes, people who have had COVID-19 are eligible to receive the vaccine and should do so. If you currently have COVID-19, you should wait until the end of your isolation period before you get your vaccine.

Yes, because your antibody development and protection against the virus is based on having two doses of the vaccine. For full protection, you need your second dose and should get it even if you had side effects after the first shot (unless your provider tells you otherwise).  

If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has only one dose, you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you receive it. 

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose in a two-dose series and two weeks after a single dose vaccine.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends, a third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for people with a compromised immune system after their initial two doses. Individuals with a medical condition that significantly impacts their immune system may not have achieved optimal immunity from their initial COVID-19 vaccines. These immunocompromised people may remain at high risk for more serious COVID-19 infections after only two shots.

If you are immunocompromised due to an organ transplant, cancer, advanced HIV or any other reason and think you qualify for a third dose, you should contact your provider at your wellness center for guidance. They can help you find out if you’re eligible and get you your third dose as soon as possible.

The CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time, but we anticipate that will change in the fall. Once FDA evaluation and CDC guidance are finalized regarding booster shots for all vaccinated populations, your care team will be available to help you obtain a shot if needed.