COVID-19 Vaccine
NH+C does not have the updated COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is on order with no estimated delivery date at this time.
NH+C follows CDC and MDH guidelines for COVID vaccination.
NH+C recommends these resources for accurate, reliable information on COVID-19 and vaccination:
- Michael Osterholm, University of Minnesota epidemiologist, podcasts: “The Osterholm Update” (link is external)
- National Public Radio: npr.org(link is external)
- MDH’s public information site: mn.gov/covid19/(link is external)
- CDC’s public information site: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html(link is external)
- Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, easy-to-understand science information: jhsph.edu/covid-19/(link is external)
- University of Minnesota CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy): https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/
Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccines
Who should get a COVID vaccine?
Are the vaccines safe?
Yes. The science behind Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines (messenger RNA) has been in development for over a decade. All the steps of research and testing were followed to establish the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine. Over 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given worldwide as of May 2023. (Source: World Health Organization)
How effective are the vaccines?
Being fully vaccinated, with all boosters recommended for your age and health conditions, significantly reduces your risk of severe illness or death.
Should I get a booster shot?
What are the side effects of the vaccine?
After I’m vaccinated, can I still spread COVID?
Yes. Some variants are highly contagious and can be spread by vaccinated people.
I’ve already had COVID. Do I still need to get vaccinated?
I wouldn’t get very sick if I got COVID. Should I still get vaccinated?
Yes. There’s no way to know how COVID will affect you, even if you are not at increased risk of severe complications. You can also spread the virus to family, friends, and others around you whether or not you have symptoms. Your vaccine protects others, too.
I have allergies. Should I get vaccinated?
If you have allergies so severe that you carry an EpiPen, talk with your provider and allergist about your options.
I’m pregnant. Should I get vaccinated?
I’m breastfeeding. Should I get vaccinated?
CDC recommends that people who are breastfeeding get vaccinated and stay up to date(link is external) with boosters.
Clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines did not include people who were breastfeeding, so data is limited. Available data shows no severe reactions in breastfeeding people or their babies. There has been no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are harmful to people who are breastfeeding or their babies. (Source: CDC)
Does the vaccine affect fertility?
No. No vaccine affects fertility or sterility, in women or men, girls or boys. However, getting sick with COVID can affect sperm count and motility in men.
How do the vaccines work?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use “messenger RNA” (mRNA) to teach cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response inside the body. That immune response produces antibodies that protect you from getting infected if the real virus enters your body.
Does my vaccine protect my loved ones?
Yes. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself and everyone around you.
Where can I find more information about COVID vaccines?
There’s a lot of information being published about COVID vaccines. Please choose reliable sources to learn the facts, so you can make an informed decision about your health – and your loved ones.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(link is external)(link is external)
• CDC-recommended sources(link is external)(link is external)
• Minnesota Department of Health(link is external)(link is external)
• Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center
Vaccination for children 6 months and older: Pediatrician Ben Flannery, MD
Why should my child be vaccinated?
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it(link is external)(link is external).
Children can get sick from COVID, some with long-lasting health problems.
Early studies show that the more times a person gets COVID, the harder it is on their immune system. Every new variant affects a child more, and has higher risk of severe COVID than previous variants. Your child is at higher risk for severe COVID now (2022) compared to when COVID began, due to mutations in the virus.
Children also can spread COVID to others, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Vaccinating children helps break the path of virus to other family members and friends.
Having all members of your household vaccinated is the best protection for your whole family.
How do we know it’s safe for children?
COVID vaccines have had the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, including studies in adolescents and children. (Source: CDC)
Moderna and Pfizer have tested their vaccines on thousands of individuals, and studies have found the vaccines to be completely safe and effective at preventing COVID – especially serious illness and death.
When should my child be vaccinated?
What are the side effects?
Vaccination and pregnancy, fertility, breastfeeding: The OB/GYNs of the Women’s Health Center
I’m pregnant. Should I get vaccinated?
I want to get pregnant soon. Should I get vaccinated now?
I heard that vaccines can affect my fertility. Is that true?
No. COVID-19 vaccines DO NOT affect fertility. It’s distressing that many young women (and men) have latched onto misinformation that vaccines could affect their ability to have children in the future. That is a scary thought. But it simply is not true. There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility. Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades. That gives us confidence that new vaccines using this proven technology are safe for you today and into your future.
I’m breastfeeding. Can I get vaccinated?
Yes. If you are breastfeeding, we recommend that you get vaccinated. You can keep breastfeeding your child. When you get vaccinated, the antibodies made by your body may be passed through breastmilk, and help protect your child from the virus.