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COVID-19 vaccine information

Updated: January 10, 2022

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The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and helps slow the spread of the disease. Get the vaccine, even if you've already had COVID-19. Together, we can move beyond the pandemic.

Here is a list of answers and resources for yourself and your family.

 

Is ProHealth Physicians offering the vaccine?
 Yes, we have the Pfizer® COVID-19 vaccine in stock at nearly all of our pediatric and adult primary care offices. ProHealth patients who are unvaccinated or meet the requirements for a booster shot may be able to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at an upcoming visit.



Am I eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
All individuals who are 5 years of age or older and live, work, or attend school in Connecticut are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more from the CT Department of Public Health vaccine portal.

You do not need to call your primary care doctor to get the vaccine. If you are eligible, we encourage you to schedule your shot(s) with any of the health care systems currently offering it.

 

Can anyone get booster shot?
The FDA has authorized COVID-19 booster shots for all three of the vaccines that we use in the United States—Pfizer, Moderna® and Johnson & Johnson® (J&J).

  • Anyone 12 or older who had the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is eligible for a booster five months after their second dose. Teens 12–17 years old may only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster.
  • Any adult who had the J&J vaccine is eligible two months after their initial dose. 
  • You can find out more about boosters here.

 

Is the COVID-19 vaccine appropriate for children?
As of November 2, 2021, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was also approved for children ages 5 to 11. You can get the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccine for children here.
At ProHealth Physicians, we put the health of you, your children and our community first. We are convinced that vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect against illness and save lives. That is why we recommend them for your family—and for ours, too.

 

What are the possible side effects after a COVID-19 shot?
The vaccine can have some side effects that generally go away within a few days. Common side effects include sore arm, headache, fever or body aches. For the most up-to-date information about possible side effects, please read this content from the CDC. If you have any questions, talk to your doctor.



I have/had COVID-19. How long should I wait before I get the vaccine?
If you received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma treatment for COVID-19, you should wait 90 days. Otherwise, you can get a COVID-19 shot at any time after your isolation period is over (5 days or longer after infection began—ask your doctor).



Can I get other vaccines if I just got my COVID-19 shot?
Yes! The CDC now suggest there is no need to space out COVID-19 vaccines from other vaccinations.



I’m pregnant, should I get vaccinated?
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people age 5 and older, including people who are pregnant. These CDC recommendations align with those from professional medical organizations serving people who are pregnant, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Unfounded claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility have been scientifically disproven.

You can learn more about the vaccine and pregnancy here.



Can I breastfeed after receiving the vaccine?
We know the currently approved COVID-19 shots do not reproduce inside the body, and pose no risk for breastfeeding mothers or their infants. Getting your COVID-19 shot is not a reason to avoid or stop breastfeeding.1 Recent reports have shown that breastfeeding women who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies.



Can I get my mammogram after I get my shot?
You should try to get your screening mammogram before your first vaccine dose or four (4) weeks after your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine.2 The shot can cause swollen lymph nodes under your arm that may result in extra unneeded testing. If you are getting a diagnostic mammogram—you have an abnormality on imaging test, physical exam, or symptoms—you should go ahead and get your test done as soon as possible.

 

Where can I get trusted information and answers to my other COVID-19 questions?
When myths and rumors spread online, they can be hard to spot and easy to believe. Get the facts and learn how to find credible sources for COVID-19 information by clicking here.

You can also check for the answers you need on the CT.gov COVID-19 Knowledge Base.

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2020/12/vaccinating-pregnant-and-lactating-patients-against-covid-19
  2. Optum COVID-19 Vaccine Conundrums and Solutions (clinician resource document)