KNOW BETTER OUR PEOPLE OUR PRACTICES CONTACT US FOLLOW MY HEALTH COVID-19 Information and Update Share this page: Facebook (opens in new tab) Twitter (opens in new tab) linkedin (opens in new tab) Your health, safety and that of our doctors, nurses and medical staff is our highest priority during this critical and changing time. We maintain continuous contact within our communities and state to monitor this rapidly evolving pandemic. Doctors and medical teams receive real time updates. Premier policies are revised with all new information. We appreciate you support and understanding during this time. Here is what we want you to know right now: Offices are open and seeing ill patients. We are screening individuals in our lobbies for fever and other COVID symptoms. If you are experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath, please call our office in advance. We can advise you of the best steps to take if you think you have been infected. The COVID-19 Vaccine Wonderful news: A COVID-19 vaccine is approved. This is a very positive step forward in fighting the Coronavirus pandemic. Things are moving very quickly with the vaccine, and information seems to be changing daily. As we know more, we’ll update this page and do our best to clearly communicate with you. Keep in mind that vaccine distribution plans are being determined by each state. In most cases, frontline workers and those who are deemed “high-risk” will receive the vaccine first. Plans for a general population rollout is still months away. Have questions about the vaccine? We have answers. Getting Vaccinated I heard a COVID-19 vaccine is available — when can I get it? You are correct. A COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the United States. The rollout and distribution will be determined by each individual state and the CDC has set guidelines to help with those decisions. In most cases, frontline workers — including medical professionals, first responders, or those working in health care facilities — will receive the vaccine first. The next group will be individuals deemed as “high risk,” meaning they are of a certain age or have a particular health condition. A general population rollout will come last. Check with your state and local health departments to see when the vaccine will be available to you. How can I get a vaccine once it is available to me? Once the vaccine is available to you as determined by your state, you can get your COVID-19 vaccine free of charge at a convenient location – like a local retail or AHN pharmacy. You can search for locations at VaccineFinder.org. Remember, some vaccines require two doses to be effective. It’s extremely important you get both and follow the suggested timeline. The timeline for distribution seems unclear. How long do I have to wait? You’re right. It is a bit unclear because we’re facing so many unknowns right now. Realistically, it may take up to a full year for the majority of people to receive a vaccine. However, if production increases, vaccines maybe available to most Americans by mid-2021. When it’s my turn to receive the vaccine, do I need an appointment? Yes, when you qualify to get the vaccine, you will need to schedule an appointment at a pharmacy. You can find the nearest pharmacy here: VaccineFinder.org. Will my doctor need to place an order so I can receive the vaccine? No doctor order is necessary. You will most likely need to answer a series of questions during your appointment at the pharmacy. What should I do until I receive the vaccine? It’s key that you continue following safety guidelines: wear a face mask that covers your mouth and nose, social distance, and wash your hands frequently. Talk with your doctor and make sure you’re up-to-date on all other recommended immunizations — including your annual flu shot. How much will a COVID-19 vaccine cost? The vaccine is free to all Americans. Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Coronavirus is a serious, life-threatening disease. It has infected millions of people worldwide and continues to pose a threat to our livelihood. Vaccinating is the safest, most effective way to build protection against this disease. If everyone makes an effort to vaccinate, we will develop “herd immunity,” meaning roughly 70% of the population can fend off the disease. Ultimately, this will slow the spread. If we all do our part and receive a vaccine when it’s available to us, we can work together to eradicate Coronavirus. Learn more about vaccine safety from the CDC. Am I really helping my community by getting the vaccine? Absolutely. Getting vaccinated isn’t only about you — it’s about your family, friends, and community. Some people cannot be vaccinated because of various diseases or severe allergies. By receiving a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you, you’re doing your part to keep our society safe and healthy. After I am vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask and practice social distancing? Yes, continue to follow recommended safety practices — wear a mask, social distance, and frequently wash your hands. The vaccine is being distributed in groups. Until the entire community has the opportunity to receive it, we must continue to do our part to slow the spread. If I have Coronavirus antibodies, do I still need to receive the vaccine? Yes, the vaccine is still recommended. Many antibody tests are not specific enough to guarantee that you actually had Coronavirus. I had Coronavirus. Do I still need to receive the vaccine? Yes, the vaccine is still recommended. The immunity gained from the vaccine may be longer-lasting than natural immunity from the infection I already received my flu shot. Do I need the COVID-19 vaccine? Yes. The flu shot is a great way to protect yourself from the season flu. However, it will not protect you from Coronavirus. Do I have to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? While COVID-19 vaccination is not mandated, Premier strongly encourages both our employees and our patients to receive the vaccine. Getting the vaccine as soon as it’s available to you is critical to protecting yourself, your loved ones, and the community. You can help bring an end to the pandemic. Vaccine Safety When it’s available to me, should I get the vaccine? Is it safe? Absolutely. The vaccine has gone through rigorous testing, received FDA approval, and been approved by several other countries worldwide. No different than someone receiving a chickenpox or measles vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine will help to eradicate Coronavirus from our population and keep everyone as safe as possible. I heard the COVID-19 vaccine received emergency use approval. What does that mean? That’s correct. The FDA gave the vaccine what’s called Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). With millions of Coronavirus cases in the United States alone, EUA was given to make the vaccine available as quickly as possible. EUA does not mean that safety was compromised or that the vaccine somehow skipped deep analysis and testing. It simply means that this vaccine was prioritized above all others and that multiple steps worked in parallel together. It was a collaborative, all-in effort by the FDA to address this public health crisis and keep our communities safe. Isn’t this a new type of vaccine? How does it work? Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine is a new generation of vaccine called mRNA. Traditionally, vaccines involve injecting an inactivate strand of a virus into our bodies, triggering an immune response, and preparing our bodies for when the “real” virus comes. An mRNA vaccine also triggers an immune response. However, it is done through a genetic strand. This strand provides the body with Coronavirus “RNA instructions,” which ultimately trigger an immune response and allow our bodies to fight off the virus. Clinical trials from top pharmaceutical manufacturers are seeing over a 90% effective rate using this new approach. What are the side effects of the vaccine? Vaccine trial participants noted mild to moderate side effects — like soreness at the injection site, feeling lethargic, chills, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain. While some of those side effects may seem extreme, it’s actually quite encouraging. It means that your body has a strong immune response to the vaccine. Some people have also experienced allergic reactions. If you have a history of allergies, speak with your doctor first. Can I become infected with Coronavirus as a result of the vaccine? No, you cannot get Coronavirus from the COVID-19 vaccine. It does not contain the virus. It is an mRNA vaccine. Keep in mind, no vaccine is 100% effective. However, your chances of contracting Coronavirus, or developing severe symptoms if you do, drastically decrease after receiving the vaccine. I’m pregnant, should I get the vaccine? Call your OB/GYN to discuss your options. If you’re a pregnant health care worker, and cannot be moved to non-patient facing activities, we recommend you consider the vaccine. Should my kids get vaccinated? While many of the vaccine trials included some older children and teens, the vaccine is not yet approved for infants and children. The vaccine will likely be approved for children at the end of 2021. About the COVID-19 Vaccine I heard the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were approved. Are there others? You are correct. As of December 2020, the FDA granted emergency approval of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Both companies are currently distributing millions of initial doses and will continue manufacturing more. There are several other pharmaceutical companies developing vaccines, but none have applied for FDA approval at this time. Visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn more. How effective are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines? Both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are over 90% effective. That means they will prevent over 90% of people from developing symptomatic Coronavirus. If you receive the vaccine and are in the small percentage of people who still contract Coronavirus, it will minimize the severity of your symptoms. To better understand that number, the FDA set a bar that the vaccine must be at least 50% effective to be considered for authorization. Both companies’ vaccines are far surpassing that. For further perspective, annual flu vaccines are 40-60% effective, whereas the two doses of the measles vaccine are 97% effective. When will the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines be available? In most cases, the vaccines are currently available to frontline workers. Each state will announce their specific rollout plan. Details on general population vaccine distribution have not yet been determined. How do the vaccines work? To be effective, Pfizer’s vaccine will be given in two separate doses, 21 days apart, with a two-day leeway on either end. That means you need to receive your second dose between 19 and 23 days after your first. The Moderna vaccine is similar. It will be given in two separate doses, in this case, 28 days apart. When the vaccine is available to you, it’s important you take the time to get both doses. Can I choose which COVID-19 vaccine I receive? Most likely, no. In most cases, a hospital or pharmacy will receive either the Pfizer or Moderna version of the vaccine. Just remember, both are extremely effective and will provide you with ample protection from Coronavirus. Information from https://www.ahn.org/coronavirus/vaccine.html Important COVID-19 Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Home Page https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Home Page https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield COVID-19 Home Page https://faqs.discoverhighmark.com/?cm_re=Highmarkbcbs-_-Bottom E-spot Row-_-Hero-1 Medicare COVID-19 Home Page https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus UPMC Healthplan COVID-19 Home Page https://www.upmchealthplan.com/covid-19/ PATIENTS & VISITORS Find a Doctor Find a Specialty Find a Location FollowMyHealth® Medical Forms Online Bill Pay (opens in new tab) Accepted Insurance More Resources ABOUT PREMIER About Us Leadership Careers Search Jobs News Awards Code of Conduct (opens in new tab) CONTACT US General Contact Information Phone Directory Administration Billing Department After Hours Compliance Department LINKS Competitively Sensitive Information Policy (opens in new tab) Notice of Privacy Practices Online Privacy Policy Terms of Use Medical Advice Disclaimer Premier Medical Associates 3824 Northern Pike Suite 700 One Monroeville Center Monroeville, PA 15146 Ph: (412) 457-0060 (opens in new tab)