Moore Healthy

The What, Where and Why of the COVID Vaccine

The COVID pandemic has tested all of us as we have learned to live, work, and act differently. This year has strengthened our resolve to defeat COVID-19 by asking the questions, following the science, and getting vaccinated. Whether or not you have gotten sick, we must strengthen our immunity – and our resolve – to defeat COVID.

The COVID vaccines offer safe and an effective way to keep you and your family safe. So please, talk to your healthcare provider, ask questions and follow the science.

I want you to know, as Norman Regional healers, we will continue putting your health and safety first by following the science. Vaccines are safe, they work and they help us all.

After you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did before the pandemic. You can get back to what you love because each vaccine is a step toward travel, restaurants, the gym, sporting activities, concerts, friends and family. It takes all of us to build a healthy future.

COVID-19 vaccines are new, and it’s normal to for people to have questions about them. The sheer amount of information—and misinformation—about this vaccine can be overwhelming to anyone. Studies show, however, that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting the virus. Getting this vaccine will also help keep you from getting seriously ill, even if you do get COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe. They were developed using science that has been around for decades, and they are not experimental. They went through all the required stages of clinical trials, and extensive testing and monitoring have shown that these vaccines are safe and effective. They can keep you from getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. That is also true for those individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection against the virus.

Population immunity means that enough people in a community are protected from getting a disease because they’ve already had the disease or because they’ve been vaccinated. And, population immunity makes it hard for a disease to spread from person to person. It even protects those who cannot be vaccinated, like newborns or people who are allergic to a vaccine.

You are probably aware that new variants of the COVID-19 virus are spreading in the United States. Current information indicates that existing COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against those variants. However, some variants might cause illness in some people after they are fully vaccinated.

What You Need to Know • Everyone 12 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination. • COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. • COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. • You may have side effects after vaccination.

These are normal and should go away in a few days. • It typically takes 2 weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19. You are not fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine.

Where to Get the Vaccine

Norman Regional’s Primary Care clinics offer the COVID vaccine to all established patients. I encourage you to speak with your doctor about the vaccine. Your doctor knows your health history and can give you guidance such as when you should get the vaccine, what side effects to watch for and other important information - tailored to you.

If you don’t have a healthcare provider, Norman Regional can match you with one in your area. We have clinics in Moore, south Oklahoma City, Norman, Newcastle, Blanchard, Noble and more. Call our referral line at 405-515-5000 to make an appointment today.

But you don’t have to get the vaccine from Norman Regional Health System. There are several ways you can look for vaccination providers near you. .......................................continued on Page 36