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COVID-19

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1. Who will get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Every resident in the U.S. will eventually be eligible for COVID-19 immunization. Due to limited initial supply, eligibility will be determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and will occur in Phases according to risk.

2. What Phase of vaccination is Coconino County in?

On January 8, 2020, Coconino County opened vaccination appointments at select sites to priority populations in Phase 1b. Priority populations in Phase 1b are:

• Education and childcare workers, teachers and staff. This includes all school and higher education staff who normally interact with other staff and students, and bus drivers, cafeteria workers, facilities staff etc.
• Law enforcement and protective services (corrections, other emergency response staff).
• Individuals aged 65 and older.

Individuals within Phase 1a including healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents and staff continue to be eligible to receive vaccinations.

 Healthcare Personnel is defined as those working in the following healthcare settings:

• Hospitals
• Long Term Care Facilities
• Homes for adults with developmental disabilities
• Outpatient
• Home Health Care
• Pharmacies
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Laboratories

Healthcare workers can include physicians, nurses, emergency medical personnel, dental professionals and students, medical and nursing students, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, hospital volunteers, administrative and support staff. More information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6949e1.htm.

The exact timeline of vaccine distribution among Phase 1 priority groups and Phase 2 and 3 remaining populations will depend on factors such as how many vaccine types have been approved, how many doses have been manufactured and allocated to Coconino County, how many individuals decide to get vaccinated, and other logistical factors. As more vaccine is available to more groups of people, more locations will open to provide vaccine.

For additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Coconino County, the phases of vaccine distribution and locations, please visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine.

3. Where can I get vaccinated?

In addition to the Coconino County COVID-19 vaccination site, vaccines are available to select Phase 1 eligible individuals through COVID-19 vaccination partners. Coconino County is proud to partner with the following organizations: Banner Health Page Hospital, North Country HealthCare (NCHC), Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH). Additional vaccination partners will be added as available. Visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine for information and registration links.

4. I am a resident of a different county. Can I get my vaccine in Coconino County?

Vaccination sites in Coconino County are intended for Coconino County residents only because of how the state of Arizona distributes vaccine, which is based on population. Please contact your county’s health department. Alternatively, the state run vaccine sites in Phoenix are available for all Arizonans, regardless of county of residence. More on those sites are available here: https://podvaccine.azdhs.gov/

5. How will CCHHS verify if someone is in a certain priority group?

Phase 1a vaccine eligibility information will be sent directly to employers. CCHHS will work with employers to schedule vaccine administration. CCHHS is actively working with providers to collect information and to schedule vaccine clinics for Phase 1a recipients.

6. Why did the County move to vaccinating priority populations within Phase 1b when my family member who lives in a congregate setting and therefore is part of 1a hasn’t received their vaccine yet?

Through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program, CDC has engaged retail pharmacy partners (CVS and Walgreens) to secure vaccine and provide on-site vaccination of residents and staff at no cost to the facility. Skilled Nursing Facilities residents and staff will receive the vaccine first, followed by Assisted Living and other adult congregate settings. This program’s process and allocation is separate and outside of Coconino County’s jurisdiction and is operating on a different timeline than the County at-large. We are working hard with our medical and community partners to offer additional vaccine appointment availability, including specific vaccination events for those 75 years of age or older. Our COVID-19 Information Line is expanding hours to aid those without internet access or those who need help navigating our site, book appointments as they become available. You can reach our COVID-19 Information Line at 928-679-7300. For those that 75 years of age or older, our Call Center staff is maintaining a list of persons to connect with when we have availability to help book an appointment.

7. When will individuals aged 65+ be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination?

The Trump administration announced on January 12, 2021 the plan to release additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to states to expand vaccinations to individuals age 65 and older. On January 13, 2021, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) ADHS announced the inclusion of those individuals as priority populations within Phase 1b.

Although the release of additional vaccine will result in increased future allocations, Coconino County continues to have limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccine at this time. All vaccine doses in Coconino County are matched with already booked appointments. There are currently no available appointments for vaccinations at the Fort Tuthill vaccination site. Additional appointment times will be added when more vaccine supplies are received.

Coconino County is currently vaccinating those eligible individuals in Phase 1a and priority populations within Phase 1b. Healthcare providers are included in Phase 1a, and priority populations within Phase 1b include education and childcare workers, law enforcement and protective services, and individuals age 75 and older. Those aged 65 and older are now being added to the County’s priority populations within Phase 1b and are eligible for vaccination when vaccine supplies allow.

8. What verification is needed for place of residence?

Please bring proof of residing in Coconino County. (ID, utility bill, etc.)

9. How many shots of COVID-19 vaccine will be needed?

The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EAU) in the United States require two shots to be effective. The timeline for receiving the second dose of the vaccine will vary based on the manufacturer. Both Pfizer and Moderna have demonstrated 95% efficacy when both doses are received. It takes about a week after the second dose to achieve that immune response.

Appointments for the second dose will be scheduled when the first dose is received.

• Pfizer vaccine - 21 days after the first vaccination
• Moderna vaccine - 28 days after the first vaccination

10. What can I do to protect myself from getting COVID-19 until I am eligible to get the vaccine?

Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay six feet away from others, avoid crowds, sanitize surfaces, and wash your hands often.

11. Do I need to wear a mask when I receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. CDC recommends that during the pandemic people wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth when in contact with others outside your household, when in healthcare facilities, and when receiving any vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unable to remove a mask without assistance should not wear a mask. For more information, review these considerations for wearing masks.

12. Who SHOULDN’T be vaccinated?

At this time, the COVID-19 vaccine is not recommended for children up to 16 years of age and pregnant women. Individuals that have previously experienced a severe allergic reaction, (e.g., anaphylaxis), to a previous vaccine or therapeutic injection should discuss vaccination with their healthcare provider first.

Vaccine will not be given if patient has a fever of 100.4 or above and/or is experiencing any other Covid-like symptoms such as chills, cough, shortness of breath, muscle or body aches, or sore throat.

13. Who is paying for the vaccine?

Vaccine doses will be provided by the federal government and will be available at no cost. However, vaccination providers will be able to charge an administration fee for giving the shot to someone. Insurance billing will depend upon the provider’s policy. CCHHS will bill insurance for vaccine administration fees. Those without insurance will not be billed the administrative fee. Those with insurance are asked to bring your insurance card when receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

14. If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available?

Yes, immunization is still recommended for those who have had COVID-19.

15. Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others if I have received 2 doses of vaccine?

Yes. It is 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. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations for how to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19.

16. When can I stop wearing a mask and avoiding close contact with others after I have been vaccinated?

Individuals should continue to wear and mask and follow other prevention recommendations after being vaccinated. There is not enough information currently available to say if or when CDC and local jurisdictions will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent 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.

17. How can I trust the vaccine will be safe?

Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines must go through a rigorous and multi-step testing and approval process before they can be used.

After a vaccine is authorized for use, multiple safety monitoring systems are in place to watch for possible adverse events. If an unexpected serious adverse event is detected, experts work as quickly as possible to determine whether it is a true safety concern.

18. How will adverse events and vaccine safety be monitored?

After a vaccine is authorized or approved for use, many vaccine safety monitoring systems watch for possible side effects. This continued monitoring can pick up on adverse events that may not have been seen in clinical trials and helps to ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive vaccines.

19. What side effects could there be from the vaccine?

Some side effects, such as redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, low grade fever,fatigue, headache, chills, muscle or joint pain, can occur following COVID-19 vaccination and are normal signs that your body is building protection.

Post-vaccination symptoms are usually mild to moderate in severity and occur within the first three days of vaccination and resolve within one to two days of onset. Symptoms are often more frequent and severe following the second dose and more common among younger persons compared to those 55 years and older.

Information about specific side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available as the FDA begins its EUA review process of manufacturer safety data from clinical trials

20. What if I feel sick after getting vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended to help protect against COVID-19 infection. The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available require two doses, 21-28 days apart. The first dose starts building protection. The second dose, a few weeks later, is needed to get the best lasting protection the vaccine has to offer. Some side effects, such as redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, low grade fever, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle or joint pain, can occur following COVID-19 vaccination and are normal signs that your body is building protection.

Post-vaccination symptoms are usually mild to moderate in severity and occur within the first three days of vaccination and resolve within 1-2 days of onset. Symptoms are often more frequent and severe following the second dose and more common among younger persons compared to those 55 years and older.

None of the current COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and become ill since the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection. Individuals exhibiting symptoms follow vaccination such as shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, or loss of taste and smell may be infected with COVID-19 or another illness and should follow all current infection control recommendations including isolating at home to avoid spreading the illness to others.

21. How can I tell if I am having side effects or if I am sick?

Side effects are more common after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine than after the first dose and in people under 55 years of age.

The following are not side effects of vaccination and may be symptoms of COVID-19 or another infection:

- cough
- shortness of breath
- runny nose
- sore throat
- loss of taste or smell

If you have the above symptoms you should quarantine and get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible. 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. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations for how to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19.

 Side effects of the vaccine and/or symptoms of COVID-19, include:
- fever
- chills
- fatigue
- headache
- muscle pain
- joint pain

If you are younger than 55 and the above symptoms are mild to moderate, start within 72 hours of vaccination, and end within 48 hours after they start, these are most likely vaccine side effects. Up to 83% of the population has one side effect after vaccination.

However, if these symptoms start more than 72 hours after vaccination and/or do not end within 48 hours after they start, consult with your medical provider for next steps.