• It is important to identify a trusted person who is well established in the community to speak to vaccination. Sharing their own hesitancy or fears and experience receiving the vaccine would be a message that would be beneficial. Ochsner understands that our patients often want to receive or learn about healthcare from people who look like them and/or speak the same language so they can approach care from possible shared experiences.
• Ochsner recognizes that health inequity, whether due to race, ethnicity, gender or low socioeconomic status, contributes to poor health and is a complex issue that requires careful investigation and novel solutions. To better understand the challenges related to these factors, Ochsner is partnering with Xavier University of Louisiana to develop the Ochsner Xavier Institute for Health Equity and Research (OXIHER).
• In order to achieve herd immunity, we must follow safety protocols. This includes wearing a mask, washing our hands, practicing social distancing and getting vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available.

• Yes. There is not enough information currently available to say how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again. In order to stop this pandemic, we must use every tool available which includes the vaccination,  handwashing and wearing masks.

• The claim circulating on social media that the COVID-19 vaccine causes female infertility is FALSE and is not supported by any research. You may review this advice from the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine for those pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Hear more from our experts on the COVID-19 vaccine and fertility by reading this blog and listening to this podcast.

• The discovery of new variants of viruses is not an unusual thing. Viruses constantly change through a process called mutation and it can happen any time. In fact, doctors and scientists expect new variants or strains of a virus to occur over time. Sometimes these variants or strains disappear, but sometimes, they stick around.
• Scientists are studying how these variants affect existing COVID-19 therapies and vaccines. In the meantime, the best course of action is still to plan on getting the vaccine as soon as you can.
• Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks of forgoing immunization including risk of infection, hospitalization or even death.
• The CDC, in collaboration with other public health agencies, such as the Louisiana Department of Health, is monitoring the variants closely. As new information becomes available, Ochsner Health, and the CDC, will provide updates.

• COVID-19 vaccination may not be for everyone. If you are unsure if you should receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to health reasons, please call your healthcare provider to discuss the possible benefits and risks.
• Vaccination will play a broader role beyond preventing infections. Vaccinations are critical in resuming education, providing opportunities for interactions and offering the full array of treatments and other services for those with intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders. Young children with developmental delays are losing their skills and receding progression. Learn more about COVID-19 and disabilities here.

• Vaccines are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after rigorous and extensive development in laboratories, as well as pre-clinical animal studies and testing on human volunteers, to ensure they are safe and effective.
• Monitoring of the vaccine and how it’s produced, including regular facility inspections, must continue for as long as the manufacturer holds a license for the vaccine.
• Additionally, the drug sponsor follows a rigorous approval process, which includes an investigational new drug application, clinical trials and presentation of data to a special FDA advisory committee.

• Protection against moderate/severe disease starts about two weeks after you get vaccinated. By four weeks after the shot, data from the clinical trial showed there were no hospitalizations or deaths.

• Like the flu shot, the vaccine is administered into a large muscle in the upper arm. As is the case with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur. Some may experience mild fever, soreness, muscle aches, headaches, chills, fatigue/tiredness, muscle or joint pain, redness and/or swelling at the site of administration. These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and expected in some patients.
• Based on data reported from the FDA emergency use authorization (EUA), possible side effects have been more prominent after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
• If you have pain or discomfort, you can take your normal pain reliever or talk to your pharmacist about taking an over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot, you can apply a clean, cool compress over the area. To reduce discomfort from fever, drink plenty of fluids.
• While extreme serious reactions to the vaccine are rare, you should seek medical care if:
  • you experience a severe allergic reaction call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
  • the redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours.
  • your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days.

Ochsner On Call can answer questions at 800-231-5257 or 504-842-3155.If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.Report side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Reporting instructions are included in Fact Sheet you received when you got your vaccine.