After Your COVID-19 Vaccination

What to Expect – Side Effects

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Side effects can range from none at all, to mild, to more discomfort, and includes pain and/or swelling at the injection site, and possible fever, chills, tiredness and headache throughout the rest of your body.

If you have pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine – such as ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines or acetaminophen – for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally. It is not recommended you take these medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects because it is not known how these medications may influence how well the vaccine works. You may also apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the injection site or exercise your arm to help with any pain. If you experience a fever, drink plenty of fluids to help reduce discomfort.

When are you protected?

The vaccines are effective and are an important tool in significantly reducing the spread of COVID-19 to help us get back to more normal routines that we enjoyed prior to the pandemic. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. In general, maximum immunity may take up to two weeks post-full immunization.

Continue Prevention Efforts

It's important for everyone to continue using all of the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions: Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, stay at least six feet away from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often.

Quarantine Guidance After Your Vaccine (as of 2/23/21)

Once you receive both COVID-19 vaccine doses, pandemic protection measures don’t go away. You should still wear a mask; practice social distancing; avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces; and regularly wash your hands, according to the CDC. However, you can skip one step and that’s quarantining after a COVID-19 exposure. These are the criteria you need to meet for it to be considered safe:

• It’s been at least two weeks since you received your second vaccine dose (currently that means you’ve received both doses, if applicable)
• It’s been less than three months since you received your second vaccine dose, and
• You haven’t experienced any symptoms since your COVID-19 exposure

If vaccinated, can you still get COVID-19?

Yes, it’s possible. As with any vaccine, the intent is to keep you from acquiring severe illness. To achieve optimal immunity, you must receive the full series of the vaccine, which may be one dose or a two-dose series.

Need a family provider?

Let our staff know and we can assist you today in getting referred to a family physician. Or, call our Find-A-Doc at (319) 369-4444.

Need urgent care? We’re ready.

MercyCare clinics have extensive precautions in place so you can get the care you need, when and where you need it … safely. We have four convenient Urgent Care locations to care for urgent needs such as cold, cough or flu-like symptoms, sore throats, ear, eye or skin infections, simple cuts, rashes, headaches, muscle sprain or strains and other common conditions.

Locations:

MercyCare North at 5264 Council St. NE, Cedar Rapids | (319) 221-8444
MercyCare South at 2815 Edgewood Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids | (319) 396-9097
MercyCare Marion at 3701 Katz Dr., Marion | (319) 373-3022
MercyCare North Liberty at 1765 Lininger Ln., North Liberty | (319) 665-3073

Sign-Up for MyChart!

Set up is easy. Create your MyChart account today.

• Complete check-in questions and consents online ahead of your next visit
• Text reminders
• Confirm, schedule or cancel appointments
• Pay bills online
• Mobile notifications
• Communicate with your primary care provider and medical home
• View test and lab results

At the vaccination clinic, check your text notifications or email for link to sign-up while you wait. In minutes, you’ll be connected to your health information.

• Click on the link sent to you (via email or text).
• Create a user name and password and enter your date of birth.
• You’re signed up – explore your health information, including updates/reminders to your next scheduled dose of vaccine.

For assistance in signing up for MyChart, email mychart@mercycare.org or call (319) 398-6161.