"Hi everyone! This is Dr. Stephanie Camaglia Reznick. I'm a board certified internist and one of the medical directors for Virtual Primary Care here at Oscar.
In today's video, I'd like to talk a little bit more about the COVID-19 vaccine. It is currently the summer of 2021, and we've learned a lot about the vaccine. It's highly effective at preventing any hospitalization, deaths, serious illnesses, or even symptomatic illnesses from COVID-19. If you were to catch a breakthrough infection, despite being fully vaccinated, and that's really rare, you're less likely to transmit the virus to anyone else around you. This is all great news.
It's important to get the vaccine not only to protect yourself but to protect those around you as well.
Some people haven't been able to get the vaccine yet, and some who have had the vaccine didn't mount enough of an immune response to be protected. The more people who get vaccinated, the faster we can get to herd immunity and put this pandemic behind us.
If you've already been vaccinated, thank you. Per the CDC, you can now pretty much resume life as you did before the pandemic.
If you haven't been vaccinated yet, but you're interested, I'd like to tell you a little bit about what to expect.
What to expect before your appointment
You'll have to make an appointment likely at the local pharmacy or your doctor's office.
Make sure to come in mask as you're not fully vaccinated yet. Additionally as a side note on masks, masks are recommended for everyone vaccinated or not in a healthcare setting, at least at this time.
When you go to your appointment to get your vaccine, remember to bring your insurance card and a form of identification (ID) as well.
If you have any health information on severe allergies, bring that as well. If you normally carry an EpiPen, it's important to carry an EpiPen with you everywhere. This is definitely no exception.
After you get the vaccine, you'll have to sit down and wait for about 15 minutes, or 30 minutes if you have a history of severe allergies to certain ingredients to make sure you're doing okay.
Managing side effects
Now, some people ask if they should take medication before getting the vaccine to prevent side effects. The answer is no. Not only is this not likely to be very effective, it may actually decrease the efficacy of the vaccine.
If you develop side effects after you received the vaccine, make sure to reach out to your doctor or other healthcare professional for next steps. That said for a sore arm, a nice cold compress can really help.
Timing to remember
If you wondering about the timing of the vaccine, you're considered fully vaccinated and protected two weeks after you seek the final dose. If you're getting the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, a second dose will be necessary.
It is recommended that you take that second dose in the same timing interval, as it was done in the trials. That said it's not always possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say not to worry if you have to receive the second dose up to 42 days after the first. That said, even if you can't get the second dose in that timeframe, the CDC says that there is no need to restart the series.
One thing to keep in mind when you're making your appointment is that you cannot receive any other vaccines within two weeks of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you're due for another shot, like a tetanus booster, keep that in mind and plan accordingly.
If you're an Oscar member, but not a patient of the Virtual Primary Care team, don't forget that you still have the Virtual Urgent Care (opens in new tab) available to you 24/7.
For non-clinical questions, like questions about cost or coverage, please don't hesitate to reach out to your Oscar Care Team (opens in new tab). You can call them at the phone number on the back of your insurance card."
Updated July 19, 2021
*Virtual providers like Dr. Reznick are employed by Oscar Medical Group and are not employed by Oscar Health, Inc.
**In 2021, Oscar Virtual Primary Care will only be available to Oscar members on individual & family plans in Miami, FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Palm Beach, FL, Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, Austin, TX, Denver, CO, and New York, NY, pending regulatory approval. Oscar's Virtual Primary Care offerings are only available for members ages 18 and over. Prescriptions, visits and services may be limited per provider discretion. Virtual Primary Care is not available in CA. If you have an HSA-compatible high-deductible health plan or a Secure plan in any state, you won't be eligible for $0 follow-up services.
This content does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, including diagnosis or treatment. Contact your physician with any questions you may have regarding COVID-19 or your personal health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
![Preparing for Your COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment [Video]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fjnbz686p%2Fhioscar_production%2Ff35974183855769dbb0ab6de66d35b8d93243c61-3840x2160.png%3Fw%3D3840%26fit%3Dmax%26fm%3Dwebp&w=3840&q=75)