Phase 1a: Residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities, as well as health care personnel. Phase 1b: Anyone 70 or older, first responders, and K-12 personnel.
Starting Feb. 1, people in Phase 1c will also be able to register at some sites across the state.
Phase 1c: Anyone 60 or older, anyone 16 or older who has a condition listed by the CDC has highest risk for Covid-19, and all essential workers.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
Yes. For all vaccines in the United States, there is an extensive development and approval process and no safety steps were skipped during the development of these vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines are held to the same standards as other vaccines to make sure they are safe. Additionally, active monitoring continues, as is the case for all immunizations, to ensure ongoing safety.
If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, will I still need a vaccine?
Vaccination should be offered to persons regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. Vaccination of persons with known current COVID-19 infection should be postponed until the person has recovered from the acute illness (if the person had symptoms) and criteria have been met for them to discontinue isolation. Additionally, while there is no recommended minimum interval between infection and vaccination, current evidence suggests that reinfection is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. Thus, persons with documented acute COVID-19 infection in the preceding 90 days may delay vaccination until near the end of this period, if desired. NOTE: For those persons who previously received passive antibody therapy (e.g., Regeneron, Eli Lilly antibody therapy, monoclonal antibodies) for COVID-19: Vaccination should be deferred for at least 90 days afterward.
Will I still have to wear a mask and social distance after I’ve received both doses of the vaccine?
Yes. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, and staying at least 6 feet away from others. It is clear the vaccines prevent serious illness, but we don’t know yet if they will prevent vaccinated people from picking up the virus and spreading it to others. Experts need to understand more about the Page 9 of 19 January 19, 2021 protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide before deciding to change recommendations on steps everyone should take to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities will also affect this decision.