COVID-19 vaccines have been available for months. While many in our community have been vaccinated, others haven’t yet decided on vaccinations and could want more information as they evaluate their options. 

Choosing to get a vaccine is a decision we all have to make for ourselves. It’s natural to have questions and want to know more.
If you’ve decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine, sharing your decision-making process can be incredibly helpful for friends and family still looking for more information.

Keep in mind the following when engaging with others: Build trust by being candid about why you’re talking about vaccines and assure the other person it’s natural to have questions. Answer questions or offer to help direct them to resources. Inspire hope and share why you chose to get vaccinated.

Mesa County Public Health offers resources to help. We know conversations about vaccines can be challenging to navigate. 

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about COVID-19 vaccines:

If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Experts don’t yet know how long you’re protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you’ve already recovered from COVID-19, it’s possible —although rare — you could be infected again. Studies have shown vaccination provides a substantial boost in protection in people who’ve recovered from COVID-19. 

What should I expect after I get the vaccine?

You could have some side effects, which are normal signs your body is building protection. Side effects could include pain at the injection site, redness and swelling near the vaccine location as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, fever, chills and nausea. These side effects could affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.

People who’ve had severe allergic reactions or an immediate allergic reactions to a vaccine will be monitored for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine. All other people are monitored at least 15 minutes after getting the vaccine.

Is it safe to get my child vaccinated against COVID-19?

Studies show COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for all eligible age groups. Like adults, children could have some side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. These side effects could affect their ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

COVID-19 vaccination can help protect your child from getting COVID-19. Although fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 than adults, children can still get it, especially with the more contagious Delta variant widespread in our community. Getting your child vaccinated helps protect your child and your family. 

Vaccination is now recommended for everyone 12 years and older. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is approved for children ages 12 to 17.

This pandemic has been hard on our community. Having more people vaccinated is a key part to getting back to spending time with family, going to concerts, attending quinceañeras, visiting grandparents and hugging one another.

We’re available to answer your questions. For more information about vaccine availability in Mesa County, visit the website at https://health.mesacounty.us.