CHI Saint Joseph Health has received shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine and is administering the vaccine to health care workers in our facilities. We are also working with state and local public health departments to identify health care workers in our community as part of the first phase of vaccine administration.
Additional information will be provided here when it becomes available.
Is the vaccine safe?
At CHI Saint Joseph Health, safety is our priority, and we only administer vaccines that are recommended by the FDA as safe and effective.
When can I get the vaccine?
Initial supply of a COVID-19 vaccine may be limited, and federal guidelines indicate that health care workers should be among the first to get the vaccine in order to ensure health systems are able to continue to provide care through the pandemic and beyond. Additionally, first responders and employees and patients in long-term care centers and other similar facilities will also likely receive the vaccines first, when they are available. We expect that vaccines may be more widely available to the public in the coming months.
Who can get the vaccine?
In Kentucky, the vaccine is being administered in phases. Once you are eligible for the vaccine, you can receive it if:
You have not had any immunizations within the last 14 days;
You have not had a COVID immunization within the last 27 days for Moderna vaccine or 20 days for Pfizer vaccine;
You have not been treated with monoclonal antibody in the last 90 days;
You have not participated in a clinical COVID-19 vaccine study. (If you have participated in such a study and had the placebo, you may be eligible for the vaccine.)
If you have a known current SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination should be deferred until you have recovered from the acute illness (if you had symptoms) and criteria have been met to discontinue isolation.
Asymptomatic and mild illness
At least 10 days* have passed since symptom onset, and
Other symptoms have improved.Severe or hospitalization
At least 20 days after symptom onset of illness, and
Other symptoms have improved.
Where can I get the vaccine?
Initially, a limited number of provider sites will be available to administer the vaccine. Check with your physician’s office to learn when you might be eligible to receive the vaccine, and for more information about provider sites near you.
What can I expect when I get the vaccine?
Expected adverse reactions after vaccination can include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, chills, nausea/vomiting, axillary swelling/tenderness, fever, swelling at the injection site, and erythema at the injection site. You can take an antipyretic or analgesic medication (e.g., acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for the treatment of post-vaccination local or systemic symptoms, if medically appropriate.
Could those who receive a vaccine still transmit COVID to their families if they are exposed?
Two doses of the vaccine are necessary for the vaccine to be effective. The doses are administered three or four weeks apart, and it is still possible to contract and spread the virus during this time. Masking is always recommended as an extra precaution, including for those who are vaccinated.
How long after the 2nd dose are you theoretically immune?
That information should be available in the data released to the public by the FDA and vaccine manufacturers. Early findings suggest that some antibodies are produced within a few weeks after the first dose, but it will take longer for full immunity to be achieved.
How is the vaccine given?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, administered three or four weeks apart. When a vaccine is given, information will be provided about when to get the second dose.
Where can I get more information about the vaccine?
For additional information on the COVID-19 and the vaccine approval process, we recommend reviewing the FAQs on the CDC website and FDA website. To learn more about Kentucky’s vaccine rollout, visit https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-covid-vaccine or call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline (800) 722-5725 with general COVID-19 vaccine questions.
