The COVID-19 vaccines continue to prove to reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, death and against COVID-19 and its variants. MercyOne continues to encourage all who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as together we work to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Find vaccine information for your county.
Guidance for children and teenagers
We are now scheduling COVID-19 vaccination for children under the age of five! Contact your child's pediatrician or primary care provider for more information about scheduling your appointment. Don't have a provider for your child? Find one near you.
CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, for everyone aged 6 months and older. Check the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children and Teens for guidance.
Guidance for immunocompromised individuals
If you are an immunocompromised individual, you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death. Visit CDC COVID-19 Vaccinations for Immunocompromised for the most up-to-date information.
MercyOne urges everyone to continue to follow current safety measures. We must continue upholding our personal safe living and decision-making responsibilities. People who are vaccinated must also stay committed to CDC safety guidelines until there is widespread vaccination. MercyOne continues to follow CDC guidance at our locations and requires wearing a mask in all health care settings.
Check out our COVID-19 video playlist.
COVID-19 vaccine: the facts
COVID-19 can have long-term effects. Regardless of age, risk factors, or severity of infection, nearly 1 in every 4 COVID-19 patients experiences different types of long-term symptoms including loss of taste or smell, and lung and heart complications which can include shortness of breath and in severe cases lead to difficulty in exercising or even walking up stairs without getting winded.
Studies have shown that 59% of COVID-19 transmissions happen with no symptoms present. That means that if you are not vaccinated, you could have COVID-19 and spread it to a vulnerable person without knowing it. Visit the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. We’ve heard you and put together a list of answers to the most asked questions.
Getting Vaccinated (Who, What, Where, When, How)
Who can get the COVID vaccine? The vaccine is now available for everyone six months and older. Visit vaccines.gov and your state’s health department website for more information.
Will the vaccine protect against variants?
Current data suggest that COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States offer protection against most variants. However, some variants might cause illness in some people after they are fully vaccinated.
How do the COVID vaccines work?
The COVID-19 vaccine gives your immune system a preview of the coronavirus, so it learns how to stop it. It triggers antibodies in your blood to attack the virus’s unique spike protein. (Did you know, coronaviruses got their name because they have protein spikes that look like a crown?)
Your immune system learns from the vaccine how to quickly recognize the actual virus and stop it from multiplying. The idea is to stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from getting into cells, replicating itself and making you sick.
How many doses are needed and can I skip a dose?
You should receive the required doses for your vaccine. You should stay up to date on your COVID vaccines by receiving any recommended booster doses.
Can the vaccine give me the virus?
No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines are made with a live virus. They cannot give you COVID-19.
Does a person who has already been sick with COVID need to be vaccinated?
Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, it is recommended everyone eligible get a COVID-19 vaccine-even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before. At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long.
How long does the vaccine protect for? Are booster shots needed?
Boosters are an important part of protecting yourself from getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. They are recommended for most people.
The CDC recommends that people ages 5 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least 3 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine does, whether that was:
- Their final primary series dose, or
- An original (monovalent) booster
People who have gotten more than one original (monovalent) booster are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) booster.
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including boosters: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
Can a woman who is trying to get pregnant, is pregnant or breastfeeding receive the vaccine?
Yes, the vaccination is recommended for all people six months and older, including people who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may become pregnant in the future. Data from thousands of people who are pregnant, breast-feeding and those who became pregnant after vaccination confirms that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective before, during and after pregnancy.
In fact, the CDC has issued a health alert recommending those who are pregnant, recently gave birth, are breast-feeding, or trying to become pregnant receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with their doctor about the vaccine. Dr. Sarah Massey explains the importance of vaccination for pregnant women, and how antibodies can be passed through breastmilk.
See also: MercyOne maternity experts support COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy.
See the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding info page.
I have a condition that makes me immunocompromised. Should I receive the vaccine?
Yes. People who are immunocompromised are more likely to be hospitalized and get seriously ill from COVID-19. It’s recommended you get vaccinated if you are immunocompromised. These people may not get as much protection after two doses of the vaccine as do people with normal immune systems. For that reason, additional doses are now recommended, with the schedule varying by primary vaccine series.
If you are immunocompromised, discuss the vaccine with your doctor for a personalized recommendation. In addition, discuss with your doctor whether you should get a medication called Evusheld that will help provide additional protection against COVID-19.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
We are confident the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective with the FDA’s emergency use authorizations and now permanent approval of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The vaccines passed numerous, required safety checks and study of reported side effects or adverse events. Several months of data have shown us the vaccines are safe and effective.
Children and The Vaccine (Information for Parents)
6 Months – Age 5 Age 5 – 11 Age 12+
Are COVID-19 vaccines safe for children?
Yes, COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use authorization (EUA) in the United States are safe. The vaccines go through the same testing and clinical trials as all vaccines and no serious safety concerns have been identified.
What side effects are common in children?
Side effects in children are similar to those in other age groups. The most common side effects include:
- Pain at the injection site
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Headache
Will kids get the same dose of the vaccines as adults?
For the Pfizer vaccine, 12- to 15-year-olds will receive the same dosing as adults. Clinical trials tested the adult dose and two smaller doses to determine safety and efficacy. This dose was proven safe and shown to be most effective for this age group. Children aged five to 11 years receive a smaller dose as part of a two-dose series, and children six months to 4 years receive an even smaller dose in a three-dose series.
For Moderna, children aged six months to 5 years receive one-quarter the adult dose in a two-dose series. Children aged six to 11 years receive half the adult dose, and children 12 to 17 years old receive the full adult dose, both as a two-dose series.
Could COVID-19 vaccines impact puberty, growth, fertility or menstruation?
The COVID-19 vaccines will not affect puberty, growth fertility or menstruation since they can’t alter cells. After mRNA vaccine instructs our body starts to make antibodies to fight COVID, the enzymes in our bodies chop up the mRNA into pieces, and it’s gone within days!
If my child or teen already had the COVID-19 infection, do they still need the vaccine?
Yes. The natural immunity produced by the body after a COVID-19 infection isn’t as strong as immunity produced by the vaccine. The vaccine gives protection and prevents hospitalization for several of the COVID variants.
Has the vaccine been out long enough to be trusted?
Billions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given worldwide. The COVID-19 vaccine is no longer "new." Scientists and pediatricians feel confident in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and the booster. Waiting puts children at higher risk for infection and illness. The vaccine and booster got to us fast because:
- The vaccine research for mRNA started in 1961 and, in the last decade specifically, was focused on SARS.
- The vaccine was released more quickly than other vaccines because the production started before the clinical trials. This was due to the pandemic, which provided funding and resources to make that happen.
Since it has been given to so many with very few complications over a year now, there is a lot of confidence in the safety of the COVID vaccine. We now know that COVID complications from the disease can be MUCH worse than complications we have seen with the vaccine.
Why is vaccination now more important than ever?
As of June 2022, over 13 million COVID-19 pediatric cases have been reported in the U.S. The CDC estimates 209,254 pediatric hospitalizations in the U.S. As of June 2022, there have been 8,525 cases of MIS-C, a serious health condition affecting multiple organs that has been linked to COVID-19 infection.
Over 1,200 pediatric deaths* have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic in the U.S. Although this seems low compared to adults, COVID is now one of the top 10 causes of death for adolescents in the United States.
Data from: https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Deaths-Focus-on-Ages-0-18-Yea/nr4s-juj3
Long COVID has also been reported among kids. The U.K Office for National Statistics is reporting that roughly 12-14% of kids experience long-term side effects of COVID.
More quarantine, worsening mental health and school concerns: Those children and teens without the vaccine will likely face more quarantines and more isolation from school, sports, and other activities. This can lead to increased mental health concerns.
What is the risk with myocarditis after the vaccine?
Myocarditis is an extremely rare side effect of the mRNA vaccine, affecting about 26 cases of per one million doses given. That's a 0.0026% risk.. Most cases are mild, and teens often recover on their own or with minimal treatment like ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin). In addition, we know that myocarditis is much more common if you get COVID or even the flu, and the risks of heart disease from COVID infection can be more severe and long lasting.
After Vaccination
When am I considered fully vaccinated?
The vaccine requires two doses three or four weeks apart, depending upon vaccine. Immunity takes some time to develop- at least two weeks after last the last injection. For example, someone vaccinated in late December won’t be fully protected until late January or early February. To be considered up to date on COVID vaccines, people should receive all recommended boosters.
I’ve been fully vaccinated but am having COVID-19 symptoms. Should I get tested?
Although the risk that fully vaccinated people could become infected with COVID-19 is lower than for unvaccinated people, any fully vaccinated person who experiences symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from others, be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, and tested for COVID-19, if indicated. The symptomatic fully vaccinated person should inform their healthcare provider of their vaccination status at the time of care.
