LIVING WITH COVID

As restrictions and guidelines change, it might be hard to keep track of current recommendations.
So, as conditions progress, more questions and answers will be added to help you stay up to date.

  1. Can my 6-year-old get the new bivalent booster?
  2. How long should I wait between doses of the COVID vaccines for my toddler?
  3. Where can I get a free COVID-19 test?
  4. Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective for babies?
  5. Where can I get the new BA.4 and BA.5 booster?
  6. I’m 71-years-old and have several health issues. It’s been about 3 months since I had my last, bivalent booster. Am I eligible for another booster?
  7. What side effects should parents expect after vaccinating their babies and toddlers?
  8. Wanna know more about the new bivalent boosters?
  9. Where can my baby get a COVID vaccine?
  10. I misplaced my original COVID vaccine card, but have a copy. I was told I need the original to get my booster. What do I do?
  11. Can my baby get all their vaccinations at the same time?
  12. Should I vaccinate my child if he’s already had COVID?
  13. What can I do to protect myself from long COVID?
  14. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, …? How many COVID shots do I need? When will it end?
  15. I received the first series of COVID vaccines and two boosters. My last booster was months ago. Should I get another booster – maybe the latest multi-strain vaccine?
  16. My dad is home bound. Is there a way to have him vaccinated with the booster at home?
  17. I had COVID, was treated with Paxlovid, and tested negative a week later. I now have no symptoms except occasional fatigue. How soon can I take the flu vaccine?
  18. Is the latest booster manufactured by Pfizer?
  19. What is long COVID?
  20. I know a senior who is home bound and would like to get a booster. During the pandemic, someone came to her house to administer the vaccination. Is the in-home service still available?
  21. I’ve had 2 COVID boosters. Should I get the new booster designed to target the BA.5 variant?
  22. Are there medications I can take to keep from getting really sick if I get COVID?
  23. Where can I get a Pfizer shot as my 2nd booster?
  24. How do I go about getting the second booster and signing up my daughter for the vaccine?
  25. What do I do if I test positive for COVID?
  26. My PCP said I can get a 2nd booster, but the pharmacist said I was not eligible. Can you clarify eligibility?
  27. Where can I get a Moderna shot as my 2nd booster?
  28. I’m fully vaccinated AND boosted. Why am I still getting COVID?
  29. Vaccinated, still coughing can you go back to work after 10 days in isolation?
  30. Are you still contagious if you’re still testing positive 14 days after your initial positive test?
  31. How many boosters should people over 65 to 70 have taken?
  32. Where can I get a booster shot?
  33. If I think I have COVID, what do I do?
  34. I tested positive, then self-isolated for 10 days, and then tested positive again. Do I need to actually test negative before I can return to work?
  35. If you test positive with a home test and self-quarantine for 5 days, should you take another home test on the 5th day?
  36. After you finish quarantining for 5 days, will washing your clothes in the washer/dryer in hot water remove the COVID virus?
  37. How long is the incubation?
  38. Japan tourist tested positive. When can they travel back to Japan?
  39. How many COVID shots do I need?
  40. How long does the virus remain active in the environment?
  41. Why do masks help? What sources are informing the claims of protection you are advertising as beneficial due to wearing masks?
  42. Can pregnant women with gestational diabetes get a second COVID booster shot?
  43. I want to continue wearing masks. What kind of mask will protect me best?
  44. Is the pandemic over?
  45. I’m fully vaccinated, but came in close contact with someone who is COVID positive. Do I need to quarantine?
  46. What exactly is the new COVID guidance for the state of Hawai‘i? Is it different for each county?
  47. Does the new guidance affect our public schools?
  48. Could the rules change again?
  49. Do I still need to worry about COVID?
  50. How can I keep myself and my family safe from COVID now?
  51. If the emergency is over, why should I bother getting vaccinated or boosted?
  52. What if I don’t know the vaccination status of those around me?
  53. Isn’t it a little hypocritical to wear a mask sometimes, but not all the time?
  54. Should I still be wearing a mask even if it’s not required?
  55. What is the status of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

Still have more questions?          Ready to get vaccinated?

Myth

I already had COVID-19, so I have natural immunity now. I don’t need the vaccine.

Fact

Getting COVID may offer some natural protection, known as natural immunity. Current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. However, experts don’t know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. Receiving a vaccine after having COVID is like a booster effect, and therefore it’s much more effective.

A study published in August 2021 indicates that if you had COVID before and are not vaccinated, your risk of getting reinfected is more than two times higher than for those who were infected and got vaccinated afterwards. Plus, getting vaccinated provides greater protection to others since the vaccine helps reduce the spread of COVID.

SOURCE: https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/myths-vs-facts-covid-19-vaccine/ (Boston University)