04/21/2021 by Sarah Pena
North County HealthCare is committed to helping our communities get vaccinated. Our top priority is to protect you and your family from COVID-19, so we can all get back to a routine that feels a little more normal. After extensive research and testing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that the vaccines administered in the United States are safe and effective for preventing COVID-19. Together, we can help put an end to the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 is transmitted by contact with a highly contagious virus. Exposure can result in severe sickness and life-threatening complications. The most common symptoms of the respiratory illness include:
Call 911 immediately if you have trouble breathing, have persistent pain or pressure in your chest, are unable to stay awake, or have pale blue-colored skin or lips.
The vaccinations that have been approved for emergency use in the U.S. are the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines (Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine has temporarily been paused). These vaccines will help reduce the spread of COVID-19, ultimately protecting our community’s most vulnerable who have an increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
Getting vaccinated is also a safer method of protection than contracting the virus, since there is no way to determine how each individual will respond if infected. In the rare event that you do contract COVID-19 after being vaccinated, you will be protected from becoming seriously ill.
After being fully vaccinated, you and your loved ones will be able to start doing some of the things you haven’t been able to do since the pandemic began, including gathering indoors with other fully vaccinated individuals without wearing a mask. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In public places, the CDC still recommends:
North Country HealthCare is distributing the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. It is an injection given in the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. Everyone who gets the first dose will receive a COVID-19 vaccination record card. An appointment will be scheduled for the second dose, approximately 28 days after the first shot. Be sure to bring the card to the second appointment for verification purposes.
Both doses in the 2-dose series are necessary for total protection, and it typically takes two weeks after the second dose to build immunity against the virus.
Possible side effects after receiving the vaccine include pain or redness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, joint pain, or a possible fever. Most people report minimal side effects that last no longer than one to two days.
Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to receive the Moderna vaccine, dependent upon county and location availability. Arizona is currently in Phase 3 of COVID-19 vaccinations, which includes all members of the general population. Both doses of the vaccine are being offered to any eligible individual that would like to participate, free of charge.
Contact your healthcare provider before scheduling a vaccination appointment, if you:
The Moderna vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19 since it does not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC clinical trial data shows the Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19, following the administration of both doses.
Natural immunity occurs when a person is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Research suggests it is rare to be re-infected for several months following an infection, but the risk may increase over time. The Arizona Department of Health suggests natural immunity may not last very long, which is why getting the vaccine helps to create an antibody immune system response without experiencing sickness. The known benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the potential risks of receiving the vaccine.
The doctors, nurses, and office staff at North Country HealthCare live and work in northern Arizona. We are working hard to make sure everyone that wants to be vaccinated can do so as soon as possible. We hope many will consider getting vaccinated to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Those who are fully vaccinated are less likely to be infected and therefore less likely to spread the virus to others.
By following safety guidelines, wearing masks, and staying six feet apart from others, you will greatly reduce the chance of exposure. The vaccine will work in harmony with these safety measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and bring an end to the pandemic.
North Country HealthCare offers vaccination appointments in most of our locations. To request an appointment, please visit https://northcountryhealthcare.org/covidvaccinerequest/ to choose a time that best fits your schedule. Contact us today with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the vaccine. We want to help protect you from COVID-19, so that you can stay healthy to do the things you love to do!
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hi, my husband and I would like a 3rd Moderna shot. We are over 65 and I have asthma. Got our two Modernas from you, a wonderful experience 8 months ago. Thank you Dawn Baker and Tom Mctaggart
Hi Dawn, thank you for reaching out. If you are a patient of North Country HealthCare, will you please get in touch with your provider to discuss your options for a third COVID vaccine? It should be stated that the booster for Moderna is not approved yet but is available for immunocompromised folks who meet the CDC criteria. North Country HealthCare requires a note from one of our providers to receive the shot. You may also find more vaccine options here: https://www.coconino.az.gov/2580/COVID-19-Vaccination-Locations. This website lists Coconino County’s recurring events and their date/times. The County offers all COVID vaccines and no appointments are required.
I would like to get my third Moderna shot from you, got the first two 8 months ago. My wife has asthma. we are both over 65. thank you
Hi Tom, thank you so much for your comment. We are committed to helping our community remain protected from COVID-19. If you are a patient of North Country HealthCare, will you please get in touch with your provider to discuss your options for a third COVID vaccine? If you are not a patient here, please visit https://www.coconino.az.gov/2580/COVID-19-Vaccination-Locations. This website lists Coconino County’s recurring events and their date/times. The County offers all COVID vaccines and no appointments are required. If you would like to become a patient at North Country HealthCare, you can request an appointment here: https://northcountryhealthcare.org/request-an-appointment/