Being immunized against COVID-19 is a highly effective way at reducing symptomatic infection, severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. COVID-19 immunizations have been approved for ages 6 months and up.
COVID-19 immunizations have been extensively studied for safety and continue to be monitored and is a safer way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19. We can’t reliably predict who will have a mild or severe illness when they get sick with COVID-19, so vaccination is a safer way to protect your health. COVID-19 immunizations can also protect others from getting sick as it can help reduce the spreading of the virus to vulnerable populations, including those who cannot be vaccinated.
The COVID-19 immunizations are free to everyone, and no insurance is required. The Macon County Health Department currently carries the COVID-19 vaccine for all approved ages, 6 months and up. Call to schedule an appointment for your vaccine at 660-395-4711. The following are the vaccines that the Macon County Health Department currently has available for COVID-19 immunizations:
- As an adult primary series, Pfizer and J&J
- As children’s primary series, Moderna (6months-11 years old)
- Adult boosters: Pfizer bivalent & Moderna bivalent (12+)
- Child boosters: Moderna bivalent (6months-11 years)
We will have the bivalent COVID-19 booster available at our office and at our all drive-thrus. This bivalent COVID-19 booster provides protection against the original COVID-19 strain and Omicron subvariants (BA.4 and BA.5). The COVID-19 bivalent booster is available for ages 6 months and up. Individuals are eligible who have completed the initial series of Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson, 2 months after the completion of their initial series or 2 months after their last booster. Individuals who received the Novavax vaccine are eligible for a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) 2 months after their initial series.
We have COVID-19 immunizations available when you are ready – call ahead for an appointment or walk-in. When receiving a COVID-19 immunization, we ask you to bring your vaccination card (if a second or booster dose), a photo ID, and an insurance card if you have insurance. The COVID-19 vaccine does not cost you anything, however, if you have insurance, we can bill your insurance for an administration fee for giving the vaccine.
At this time, we cannot replace lost COVID-19 vaccination cards. However, we can print an official COVID-19 vaccination record through Show-me-vax for anyone who is needing that record.
You can print and complete a copy of the vaccination consent form ahead of your appointment.
Boosters
Booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine help your body continue to build and strengthen immunity against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Everyone ages 5 and up are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose.
Booster doses
Boosters help your body to continue to build protection against COVID-19. There has been an updated bivalent booster released in September 2022, which helps offer protection against the original strain of COVID-19 and the omicron strains (BA.4 and BA.5).
As of December 9, 2022, everyone ages 6 months and up is eligible for a COVID-19 bivalent booster.
You are eligible for the bivalent booster 2 months after the completion of your primary series or two months after your last booster.
Anyone who had Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, or J&J is eligible to receive the bivalent booster.
Side effects
The benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risk.
Some people have side effects from their vaccine, which are normal signs that their body is building protection. They should not last long. Common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are soreness in the arm, tiredness, fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, and nausea.
Severe allergic reactions are rare. Before receiving a vaccination, you will be asked to fill out paperwork, including whether you have had severe allergic reactions before. You will also be monitored for 15 minutes after your vaccination to watch for a severe allergic reaction.
Transportation
Seniors age 60 and over and other homebound adults, may qualify for assistance through Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with vaccine registration, transportation, and more. Please contact your local AAA for assistance on services at 660-665-8314.
If you need assistance with transportation to a vaccine appointment, check the DHSS website which lists resources for scheduling rides throughout the state. Macon County is located in Region B.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many doses will I have to get of the vaccine? The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses 21 days apart and Moderna vaccine requires two doses 28 days apart. The Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine requires one dose.
- Should I get the vaccine if I’ve already had COVID-19? Yes. As long as you are no longer in isolation and symptomatic from a COVID-19 infection and as long as you had not had passive antibody therapy within the last 90 days as a treatment for COVID-19.
- How much will the vaccine cost? There will be no out-of-pocket cost for the vaccine. Insurance can be billed for the administrative cost of the vaccine, but no insurance is required and there will be no fee for anyone.
- When will the vaccine be available? It’s available! Call to schedule an appointment today!
- Will vaccines be given at the Health Department? Yes. We have vaccine clinics that are by appointment only at this time. Call to schedule an appointment.
- Is the vaccine safe? Yes, it is safe. It has gone through three phases of clinical trials and has been approved by the FDA as safe. Immunizations are continually monitored for safety as they are in use.
- Is the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine safe? This vaccine was paused with an abundance of caution but has been reinstated as of April 23, 2021. Six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals occurred after receiving the J&J vaccine. These adverse events are extremely rare. Nearly 7 million people in the United States had received Johnson & Johnson shots prior to the pause. Cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.
- Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine? No you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. There are no live parts of virus in the vaccine.
- Will I be protected from COVID-19 right after receiving the vaccine? You are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your final dose. It takes the body time to build antibodies from a vaccine, so it could take time for your body to build an immune response. It is important to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing and practice good hand hygiene after vaccination while others build immunity and your body takes time to build an immune response.
- Are there side effects to the vaccine? The vaccines may cause side effects in some people, like sore muscles, feeling tired, or mild fever. These reactions mean the vaccine is working to help teach your body how to fight COVID-19 if you are exposed. For most people, these side effects will last no longer than a day or two. Having these types of side effects does NOT mean that you have COVID-19. If you have questions about your health after your shot, call your doctor, nurse, or clinic. As with any medicine, it is rare but possible to have a serious reaction, such as not being able to breathe. It is very unlikely that this will happen, but if it does, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room
- If most people recover, why do I need the vaccine? COVID-19 is a deadly disease that causes severe illness – and in some cases, long term symptoms that we have yet to fully understand. The COVID-19 vaccines have been created to decrease death and severe illness. Although a high percentage of people recover from COVID-19, some are hospitalized and experience severe illness. The vaccine can help you from spreading the virus to others, including when you have the virus but no symptoms. When you make the choice to be vaccinated, you are protecting not only you but also those around you from the chance of death and severe illness caused by COVID-19.
- Can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding? Yes, it is safe for women who are pregnant and women who are breastfeeding to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Once I’m vaccinated, what are the benefits?
- Being fully vaccinated (2 weeks after your final dose) means that you are less likely to transmit COVID-19 to others so it helps the health of our community, you are less likely to have a severe infection or be hospitalized from COVID-19 so it helps your health.
- Once you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine as long as you are not showing symptoms, if you come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
- Once you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing more safe activities, such as
- Being indoors with other fully vaccinated individuals without mask and without having to maintain a 6 feet distance
- Be indoors with others who are unvaccinated and are low risk, but it is still recommended to social distance
- If you travel within the United States, you do not have to self-quarantine after travel or get tested before travel
- If you travel outside the United States, check with the county of travel on policies
- Once I’m vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask? Yes it is recommended to continue to wear a mask indoors with others and in situations you cannot maintain social distancing. This helps protect yourself and others during the pandemic
EUA for Moderna Vaccine EUA for Pfizer Vaccine EUA for Johnson & Johnson/Janssen VaccineMissouri DHSS Notice of Privacy Practices DHSS COVID-19 Vaccine Website
