12455 W Lakeshore Drive
Brimley, MI 49715
Bay Mills Health Center
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What You Need To Know About the COVID Vaccine
The COVID vaccines were a breakthrough in the battle against the viral pandemic that grounded economic activities to a halt worldwide.
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, like those from Pfizer and Moderna, have continued to show high levels of effectiveness at substantially reducing the risk of contracting the virus. They also prevent severe illness and death in people who contract the virus.
Over the last couple of years, pharmaceutical companies have continued to release boosters of these vaccines to ensure protection against a decline in vaccine effectiveness.
At the Bay Mills Health Center, we administer the latest COVID boosters, which target the most recent strains currently circulating across the country.
Who Is Eligible for a COVID-19 Vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone aged six months and older should get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Children aged five years and above and adults need at least one shot of the latest COVID vaccine update to ensure protection against serious illness.
However, children aged six months to four years may need more than one dose of the updated vaccine to be safe.
Moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals may also need multiple shots of the latest COVID vaccine booster to ensure protection against serious illness.
A history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome and other such medical conditions may affect your eligibility to receive the vaccine.
Why Should I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
As stated above, you should get the COVID vaccine to reduce your chances of contracting the virus. If you do contract the virus, the vaccine will help reduce the chances of having to go to the hospital. By getting the updated vaccine booster, you can have more peace of mind, knowing you and your loved ones are safe from the latest COVID-19 variant.
Getting the COVID vaccine is also an excellent way to contribute toward building herd immunity against the virus. While social distancing and other safety practices work, we can only defeat the virus when a significant portion of the population is immune to it.
Herd immunity protects people who cannot receive the vaccine and reduces the probability of another outbreak and future lockdowns.
COVID-19 Vaccine Safety
The COVID vaccine has undergone rigorous testing to ensure its efficacy and safety. Billions of doses have already been administered worldwide.
However, some people have experienced side effects such as headaches, muscle pain, chills, fever, nausea, tiredness, and pain at the injection site.
Severe side effects after receiving the vaccine are very rare. However, they have occurred.
There were a few reported cases of blood clots after the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The CDC updated its guidelines by advising people to choose the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna where possible.
Some rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis within a week of receiving the mRNA vaccines have also occurred. However, those who received care recovered quickly.
Overall, the benefits of receiving the COVID vaccine far outweigh the risks of potential serious side effects.
COVID-19 Cost
The COVID-19 vaccine is available for free to most people.
Individuals who do not have insurance coverage can receive the vaccine for free. The government offsets the bills with providers. You may need to provide your personal information for the provider to confirm you have self-paid for prescriptions in the past.
However, those with insurance must confirm that their policy covers COVID-19 vaccines. Most policies (including Medicare and Medicaid) cover the vaccine. However, if yours doesn’t, you may need to pay for the vaccine or pay administrative fees to the vaccine provider.
Schedule Your COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment | Bay Mills Health Center
At Bay Mills Health Center, we are happy to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to our community. Are you looking to receive the COVID booster shot or to receive a COVID vaccine for the first time? Calling to schedule your appointment with our team is straightforward.
You can make an appointment by calling Bay Mills Health Center in Brimley, MI, during office hours at (906) 248-5527 or after hours at (906) 203-4074. We do not offer online scheduling at this time
