The COVID Vaccine Explained

So, you’ve gotten the COVID-19 vaccine and are wondering, “now what?” Are there COVID vaccination side effects? How long is the COVID vaccine effective? Are there COVID vaccine issues that you should be worried about?

The good news is that there really aren’t many issues and any side effects you might experience are minimal. And you’re going to be protected for a very long time.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be taking precautions. It’s confusing, we know. It’s best to have the benefits of the COVID vaccine explained to you by your doctor, but here is some information on what it means to be fully vaccinated.

What Does “Fully Vaccinated” Mean?

You’re considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you’ve received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. You’re also considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The best way to find the vaccine in your area is by using the CDC’s vaccine finder.  Starting March 29, all Ohioans ages 16+ will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

New COVID Guidelines

If you’re fully vaccinated, the new guidelines apply to you. Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers are calling it a first step to getting back to normal. You can’t go back to how life was before the pandemic just yet.

Here’s what you need to know:

• If you’re fully vaccinated, you can now visit small household groups, indoors with others who are fully vaccinated without wearing face masks or maintaining a physical distance.
• You may also gather with members from a single household who aren’t vaccinated — as long as no one in the household is considered high-risk.
• This means that grandparents who are fully vaccinated can now visit maskless, indoors with their low-risk, unvaccinated children or grandchildren who all live under the same roof.

The new guidelines don’t apply to work, school or other public settings. They’re only meant for private settings.

Still Play It Safe

Although it appears that COVID-19 may not spread as much among vaccinated people, more research is needed. If you’re fully vaccinated, you should still play it safe and do things like:

• Continue wearing a face mask in public.
• Avoid anyone who is high-risk and hasn’t been vaccinated yet.
• Avoid medium and large gatherings.
• Wear face masks and follow safety protocols when visiting with other unvaccinated people from multiple households.

There’s more to learn about how effective the vaccines are against the COVID-19 variants. Researchers are also tracking whether the vaccines will keep you from spreading the virus.

But one place you’re encouraged to go is back to your doctor’s office. If you’ve been putting off a procedure or are way overdue for your annual exam, now is the time to do it.

Contact your physician and make an appointment today.