COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION FOR OLDER ADULTS

1) ARE THE COVID-19 VACCINES SAFE?
YES, ALL THE COVID-19 VACCINES THAT ARE BEING USED HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SAME
SAFETY TESTS AND MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS ANY OTHER VACCINES PRODUCED.
LEARN MORE ON VACCINE SAFETY.

2) WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING VACCINATED?
THE COVID-19 VACCINE WILL WORK WITH YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM SO IT WILL BE READY TO
FIGHT THE VIRUS IF YOU ARE EXPOSED. COVID-19 CAN HAVE SERIOUS, LIFE-THREATENING
COMPLICATIONS, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW HOW COVID-19 WILL AFFECT YOU. IF YOU
GET SICK, YOU COULD SPREAD THE DISEASE TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND OTHERS AROUND YOU.
BEING VACCINATED CAN PROTECT YOU AND THOSE AROUND YOU FROM SERIOUS ILLNESS.

3) WHERE CAN I GET THE VACCINE?
GO TO THE KENTUCKY COVID-19 VACCINE WEBPAGE AND CLICK ON WHERE CAN I GET VACCINATED? TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU THAT IS ADMINISTERING THE COVID-19 VACCINE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE COMPUTER ACCESS, PLEASE CONTACT THE CALL CENTER (MONDAY–FRIDAY, 8 A.M.–7 P.M. EST) AT (855) 598-2246 FOR ASSISTANCE ON WHERE TO GET VACCINATED.

4) CAN I STOP WEARING A MASK ONCE VACCINATED?
NO, EVEN AFTER YOU GET VACCINATED, YOU WILL NEED TO KEEP WEARING A MASK THAT
COVERS YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH, WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN AND STAY AT LEAST SIX FEET
AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE YOU DO NOT LIVE WITH. THIS GIVES YOU AND OTHERS THE
BEST PROTECTION FROM CATCHING THE VIRUS.

5) IF THE VACCINE I GET REQUIRES 2 DOSES, DO I NEED BOTH DOSES?
YES, IT TAKES TIME FOR YOUR BODY TO BUILD PROTECTION AFTER ANY VACCINATION.
COVID-19 VACCINES THAT REQUIRE TWO SHOTS MAY NOT PROTECT YOU UNTIL A WEEK OR
TWO AFTER YOUR SECOND SHOT. ASK YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ABOUT GETTING STARTED WITH V-SAFE. USE YOUR SMARTPHONE TO TELL THE CDC ABOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS AFTER GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE. YOU’LL ALSO GET REMINDERS IF YOU NEED A SECOND DOSE. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT V-SAFE.

TYPICAL SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDE:
Pain and/or swelling on the arm where you received the shot, fever, chills, tiredness and/or
headache are normal effects of either irritation to the injection site or proof your body is building immunity. Side effects should go away in a few days, but if you have side effect concerns or they persist, please contact your health care provider.

Find out more information on WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.