COVID Vaccination
About
9/6/2025 Please note: The vaccination information here was originally linked to the CDC's website, which provides information on vaccines, cases, and surveillance in the United States. However, up-to-date information about case numbers/surveillance and recommendations for the vaccine updates are not reliable due to the recent directives of the current administration and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Therefore, the general information should still be applicable, but links you visit while reading about the vaccinations may be broken and/or outdated.
How often should you get a COVID-19 vaccination? This varies according to age. Recent ACIP sources recommend the following:
People age 65 and older: Still strongly recommended to receive the vaccine, often with two doses spaced six months apart.
People with underlying health conditions: Includes asthma, diabetes, obesity, cancer, kidney disease, mood disorders, and more.
Children:
Moderna: Approved for kids 6 months and older only if they have an underlying condition.
Pfizer: Approved for kids 5 and older with a qualifying condition.
Novavax: Approved for ages 12 and up with a qualifying condition.(1)
There are exceptions. If you have any questions, visit the CDC site, check with your healthcare provider, or a pharmacist.
As most people know, there has been a great deal of controversy over this vaccination. The COVID-19 virus has continued to change (mutate) over the last few years and, as it continues to change, so do the vaccines. For most people, COVID-19 is not as severe as it was when it began. Now, just like flu shots, pharmaceutical companies seem to be developing annual COVID vaccines. The current vaccines should cover current covid strains. If you have tolerated COVID-19 vaccines in the past, it may be a wise decision to get a booster.
Getting a covid vaccine is particularly important for those 65 years and older (if you happened to get the 2023-24, the CDC recommends a second dose at least four months after the first).
Like many other vaccinations, you can have pain at the injection site, mild fever, fatigue, body aches, and headaches. It has also been linked to a few other relatively rare and unpredictable symptoms like tachycardia (fast heartbeat), myocarditis (mainly in boys younger than 17 years old), and herpes zoster (shingles). Interestingly. The latter (shingles) was reported by four of my colleagues and a few of my patients after receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. There are also isolated cases of short-term neurological problems and musculoskeletal problems, among others. but primarily in older people. However, the vaccine has also prevented many underlying problems, including hospitalization and death.
If you feel you have or may have had serious side effects from the COVID-19 vaccination, report them to VAERS (a comprehensive compendium of vaccine side effects) and let your primary care provider know—particularly if you believe you continue to have ongoing side effects.
Whether you want to get a COVID-19 vaccination or a booster is ultimately up to you. This is one of those risk versus benefit situations. Will the benefits outweigh the risks? Sometimes decisions in life are a gamble.
Q&A
​
I pass out when I get shots. Should I avoid getting them?
Passing out when you get a shot is not that uncommon. First, discuss this with a healthcare provider. Most of these reactions are vasovagal reactions. Most of the time, your mind is just fine about it, but your body does not like it one bit. Once you decide to get the vaccine, be sure to hydrate before and tell the person giving you the vaccine that you sometimes pass out when you get it. The person giving you the vaccine will accommodate your problem by laying you down before you get the vaccination. They will give you the shot and keep an eye on you afterward. ​
​
I am immune compromised. Should I get vaccinated?
Those with immunocompromising conditions or on medications that cause potential immune compromise should talk to an immunologist before getting a live virus vaccination because they may not be able to fight off the potential disease that the live virus can cause.
​
Does Insurance cover vaccinations?
Although insurance is supposed to cover preventive services, it sometimes does not. Call your insurance company to see if they cover the ones you want and ask where they are covered. Some are only covered in medical facilities like doctors' offices or clinics, and others are only covered at pharmacies (i.e., shingles). They are the COVID-19, flu, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines.
Traditional Medicare is especially tricky: As of this writing, it only covers Hepatitis B for beneficiaries who are at medium or high risk for the virus and Tdap for those with a documented injury.
​
The other four vaccines—shingles, RSV, Tdap, and hepatitis A—are covered by Medicare Part D, the optional prescription drug program available to people with Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans. Again, be sure to ask your insurance company if they are covered and where. If you do not do this correctly, you can end up with a hefty vaccination bill.
​
I have heard that I should NOT take Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) after a vaccination - that it will dull my immune response. Is this correct?
Most sources agree that it is acceptable for adults to take ibuprofen or Tylenol (acetaminophen) after a vaccination for side effects: Those medicines will not cause a problem with immune response. That being said, if your side effects are not too bad and you do not need to take those medications, you feel you can weather through the side effects, try to do that. Use a cool cloth at the site for soreness, move the arm you got the injection a lot, and dress in cool clothing if you feel hot. Still, if you need the medications for side effects, take them.
​
​For more information about vaccines see the CDC
​​​
*Disclaimer: The material above is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure a condition. The uses listed above are tentative; some have or are undergoing research trials, but many are not FDA-approved. You must investigate these supplements further before deciding to use them. Check interactions and contraindications on sites like Drugs.com or WebMD. Do not attempt to treat a serious condition like liver, kidney problems, high blood pressure, heart, cancer, diabetes, or thyroid issues without discussing it with a healthcare provider first. If you are pregnant, do not use supplements without discussing it with your healthcare provider.