COVID-19 vaccine information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone ages 6 months and older receive a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against potentially serious illness this fall and winter. 

It’s especially important to get vaccinated if you’re at high risk for complications from COVID-19. Older people and those with weakened immune systems have a greater risk for hospitalization and even death from the virus. However, even healthy children and adults can get seriously ill from COVID-19.

The CDC recommends everyone ages 65 years and older, including people who live and work in long-term care settings, get 2 doses of the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart.

While it is recommended to get 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine doses 6 months apart, the minimum time is 2 months apart, which allows flexibility to get the second dose prior to typical COVID-19 surges, travel, life events, and healthcare visits.

If a child ages 6 months to 4 years old has never been vaccinated for COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 3 doses of the Pfizer vaccine or 2 doses of the Moderna vaccine. 

The CDC recommends that all people 6 months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine even if you had COVID-19 recently. You should wait until you recover from the illness before getting your next COVID-19 vaccine dose.

You can also wait up to 3 months from when you first showed COVID-19 symptoms or got a positive test result. The risk of reinfection is low for a few weeks to months after you recover. And some studies have shown that increased time between infection and vaccination may improve the immune response to the vaccination. 

The CDC recommends getting whichever vaccine is available, regardless of which one you got for your previous vaccination. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are equally safe and effective. Most Kaiser Permanente locations are giving the updated Pfizer vaccine at no cost to our members.  

Members who are unable to get an mRNA vaccine can request the newly authorized updated Novavax vaccine as supply allows. 

• Commercial members: When provided by Kaiser Permanente, COVID-19 vaccines are covered under preventive benefits with applicable plan out-of-pocket costs, typically $0. COVID-19 vaccines are not covered when you get them outside of Kaiser Permanente. 
• Medicare members: COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no cost. COVID-19 vaccines are not covered when you get them outside of Kaiser Permanente. 
• Medicaid members: COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no cost. 

Before you get the vaccine, consider these steps to help prepare for any side effects: 

• Stay hydrated. This is especially important if you tend to feel lightheaded when getting a shot or your blood drawn.³ You should also try to avoid alcohol the night before your vaccine appointment.
• Get sleep. Studies have shown that sleep after vaccination strengthens your body’s immune response.⁴ Aim to get 7 hours of sleep a night.
• Take care of yourself. Be good to your body the day or days that you get your vaccine. If you have pain in your arm, you can use an ice pack for relief. If you have chills, a warm shower or heated blanket may feel nice.
• Consider pain relief meds. Keep ibuprofen (like Advil) or acetaminophen (like Tylenol) on hand to help with body aches or a fever.⁵ But don’t take pain medication before getting your COVID-19 vaccine. Taking pain meds beforehand may reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness.
• Dress in comfortable clothing. This makes it easy to expose your upper arm. Some clinics may be outdoors, so dress for the weather. You may have to wait for a while, including up to 30 minutes after your vaccination. 

Your child should wear comfortable clothing that makes it easy to expose their upper arm. Please don’t arrive more than 5 minutes before your appointment.

A parent or guardian must give consent.

Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines can have side effects. Common side effects include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Headache
• Chills
• Soreness around the injection site

These side effects are normal and usually only last for 1 to 2 days. 

Can I access a digital vaccination card on my mobile device?

Yes, you can see your COVID-19 vaccination status on the Kaiser Permanente app by following these steps.

1. Sign in to the Kaiser Permanente app.
2. Under “Get Care,” tap "COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing, and Care."
   
3. Tap “Review COVID-19 Record and QR” to view and share a scannable QR code with your vaccination status.

I lost my COVID-19 vaccination card. Can I get a replacement?

If you were vaccinated at Kaiser Permanente, you can access a digital vaccination card using the instructions above.

If you were vaccinated outside of Kaiser Permanente, contact your vaccination provider or your state health department. You can find state information on the CDC’s website.  

We’re updating our members’ vaccination records using state immunization registries. But you can also send us your information online. Sign in to kp.org to email a photo or copy of your vaccination card to your doctor’s office. Use the subject line “COVID-19 vaccine update” and click on the “Attach an image” link at the bottom of the message to add your photo or scanned copy.

Yes, the vaccines have been tested and approved for safety. They use common food ingredients like sugars, salts, and fats, and millions of people have safely received the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all the COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19.

There’s still a chance you get a COVID-19 infection even if you’re fully vaccinated, but the vaccine can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization. They also lower your risk of getting long COVID.

Yes, the updated vaccines should be effective against the more recent COVID-19 variants.

It’s important to get the updated vaccine, since it provides the best protection against the more recent variants. 

No. Vaccine effectiveness is the same for everyone. 

Yes. According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 infection in children and adolescents. 

No. The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t contain the virus, so it can’t give you a COVID-19 infection.

Yes. We recommend getting a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. You don’t have to wait to get pregnant after getting vaccinated. Talk with your care team if you have concerns.

Learn more about COVID-19 and pregnancy at kp.org/maternity-covid.

If you have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you decide if getting vaccinated is the right choice for you.

Even though it’s extremely rare, allergic reactions to a vaccine can happen. Don’t get a vaccine with ingredients that have given you a severe allergic reaction in the past. If you find you’re allergic to a certain type of vaccine, don’t get another dose of that vaccine.⁶

Visit the CDC website to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine for people who have allergies. 

No, the COVID-19 vaccines don’t cause infertility.

And heart problems from the vaccine are uncommon, according to the CDC. The benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 are greater than the risks.