COVID-19 vaccinations have been well underway in the state of New Jersey since late 2020. Our goal is to keep you informed with the most up-to-date information every step of the way.
To help you understand the safety and science of each vaccine, please explore the FAQs below.
With very few exceptions, the answer is yes. We suggest learning as much as you can about each COVID-19 vaccine so you can make the best, most informed decision for yourself and your community.
Studies show that the vaccines protect people against severe illness, hospitalization, or worse. For those with underlying conditions at a higher risk for severe illness - such as diabetes, obesity, or chronic kidney disease - the vaccine also showed protection.
At Virtua, we believe widespread vaccination is essential for bringing the pandemic to an end. We encourage everyone to give vaccinations serious consideration.
All people who live, work, or receive an education in New Jersey and are 6 months old or older are now eligible.
Many groups of people are eligible for vaccine boosters, specifically the bivalent booster that is intended to protect against the omicron strain of COVID-19. Eligibility is based on a number of factors, including age, vaccine history, and whether you have recently recovered from COVID-19.
Consult the CDC for the latest recommendations.
Eligible community members can receive boosters at more than 1,600 sites across New Jersey. To find a vaccination site and book an appointment, visit covid19.nj.gov/finder or call the state’s Vaccine Call Center at 1-855-568-0545.
If you've recovered from COVID-19, you've probably built up antibodies to the virus. But it's not currently clear how long those antibodies protect you against reinfection. Plus, with variants and mutations spreading throughout the community, we recommend you still consider getting vaccinated.
If you are currently sick with COVID or contract the virus between your scheduled doses – you can receive the vaccine after you complete your isolation period directed by your physician.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a joint statement that includes the following: “As experts in reproductive health, we continue to recommend that the vaccine be available to pregnant individuals. We also assure patients that there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility.” If you're pregnant, planning to conceive, or presently breastfeeding, see our COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy FAQs. We also suggest speaking with your OB or midwife to create a plan that's right for you.
There will be no charges or co-pays to vaccine recipients. As authorized, insurance providers will be billed for vaccine administration. For those without insurance, vaccination is free of charge.
You should cancel your vaccine appointment should any of the conditions below apply:
• If you have experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 48 hours: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• If, within the past 14 days, you have been in close physical contact (six feet or closer for a cumulative total of 15 minutes) with someone who has laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms.
• If you are isolating or quarantining because you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 or are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19.
• If you are currently waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test.
Vaccination of people with a known, current COVID-19 infection should be deferred at minimum until the person has recovered from the acute illness (if the person had symptoms) and criteria have been met for them to discontinue isolation.
Someone with COVID-19 that developed after the first dose of vaccine may receive the second dose, but that person must take all necessary precautions to ensure he or she does not put others at risk. This means that a second dose can only occur if:
• At least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms and/or a positive test result, AND
• At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, AND
• All other symptoms have improved.
Should you find yourself in this position and are unsure whether to move forward or delay your second-dose appointment, consider consulting with your primary care provider to arrive at a decision that feels right to you.
As with any vaccine, you may experience one or more common reactions over the coming days. This is a sign that the vaccine is getting to work. These symptoms are usually minor and will improve quickly. Some people report feeling fatigue, fever, headache, or pain/soreness in the arm -- particularly after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine. Some people have no adverse reaction at all.
If you have any concerns about how you’re feeling, please contact your primary care provider to answer any questions about your symptoms. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 right away. For more information on possible side effects, visit the CDC's helpful guide.
If you haven’t yet been vaccinated, or if you live with or come into close contact with people who have not, or cannot, be vaccinated, it’s important that you continue safety practices to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to protect yourself and those around you:
• Wear a mask over your mouth and nose.
• Practice social distancing.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid indoors gatherings with those outside your immediate household.
If you have been vaccinated, there are still situations and circumstances in which wearing a mask is the best thing to do. For instance, if you’re in a large gathering or unsure of others’ vaccination status, wear a mask. Some places may still require you to wear a mask, regardless of whether or not you have been vaccinated.
Three manufacturers were given emergency authorization by the FDA to distribute vaccines: Pfizer and Moderna were authorized in December 2020, and Johnson & Johnson was authorized in February 2021. Pfizer and Moderna developed mRNA vaccines, whereas J&J developed what is known as an adenovirus vector vaccine. Today, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have full FDA approval for their initial two-dose series.
While there are notable differences among them – all vaccines offer significant protection against COVID-19. Read below to learn more about how each vaccine works.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines developed messenger RNA vaccines – mRNA for short. At their core, these vaccines are designed to teach your body how to produce antibodies that protect you if the real virus ever enters your system. It's important to know that the mRNA vaccines do not contain a single COVID particle, nor do they alter your DNA in any conceivable way.
Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is an adenovirus vector vaccine, which is a more traditional approach to vaccine development. Basically, the vaccine uses a harmless, genetically modified common cold virus to trigger your immune system to build antibodies. As mentioned, this approach is not new, and J&J has used similar methods for developing vaccines in the past.
The most noticeable difference is that Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines, and J&J is a viral vector vaccine. You can read more about each vaccine on the CDC website.
We think it's equally important to talk about how they are alike. All of these vaccines have been rigorously tested, demonstrated to be safe, and provide substantial protection from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.
In short, very. Based on the public data, all of the available vaccines are highly effective at preventing illness from COVID-19, most importantly severe illness that results in hospitalization or worse. Health experts recommend people take whatever vaccine is available to them for personal protection and to bring our communities closer to herd immunity.
To this point, few safety events or longer-term reactions have been reported in association with the authorized vaccines. While some side effects are common - including arm pain, fatigue, muscle aches, chills, and fever - they generally clear up within a few days.
The CDC offers the following information on vaccine safety and related topics:
• Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
• Key Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines
• Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
• COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens