2023-09-30 01:58 Atlanta News
It’s the autumn and winter influenza and COVID-19 epidemic seasons. As a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of Asian American seniors and their families, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is specifically targeting vaccination to prevent COVID-19. Regarding the issue of viral vaccines, the following explanations are put forward:
Question 1: I was vaccinated with the updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine last year. Do I still need to be vaccinated this year?
Like the flu virus, the coronavirus changes over time. As of September 2022, the old bivalent vaccine no longer matches the currently circulating new coronavirus strain. The new vaccine against the currently circulating variants was approved by the FDA on September 11, 2023, providing better protection for people, and began to be used in late September this year.
Question 2: Does everyone need to get the new COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC recommends that people aged 6 months and older receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine to prevent potentially serious consequences of the COVID-19 virus this fall and winter. Annual vaccination is the best way to prevent severe hospitalization. People most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are generally over 65 years old, or have asthma, diabetes, or cardiopulmonary disease. For people under 18, the risk of hospitalization is low. But if you are between 65 and 74 years old, the risk is 36 times higher. The older you are, the higher the risk. Therefore, it is especially important to be up to date on your vaccinations if you are over 65 or have underlying medical conditions. Please note that young people are vaccinated not only for themselves, but also to protect the older people they spend time with.
Question 3: If I have been infected with COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated?
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after recovery can provide additional protection against the virus. You may consider waiting at least three months after symptoms begin, or after recovery of negative results (if you are asymptomatic) before getting vaccinated. People who are not vaccinated after recovery are more likely to be infected again with COVID-19 than those who are vaccinated after recovery.
Question 4: After receiving the flu vaccine or other vaccines, do I need to wait for a while before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?
There is no recommended waiting period between COVID-19 vaccination and other vaccinations. You can get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, including the flu vaccine. The side effects are usually the same when the vaccine is given alone or with other vaccines. Talk to your doctor about how you should schedule your vaccinations.
Question 5: Does my health insurance cover flu and COVID-19 vaccines? What if I don’t have health insurance?
Yes, Medicare (Red and Blue Card) Part B and Medicaid (White Card) in most states can support free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. All health insurance Market plans and most private insurance plans also cover these vaccines, with no out-of-pocket cost when the vaccines are given by an in-network doctor.
People who don’t have health insurance or whose health plan doesn’t cover the cost can get the free vaccine from their local health center, state, local, tribal or territorial health department and pharmacies participating in CDC’s Bridge Access Program. Your state health department can also tell you where to get free and low-cost vaccines, including community centers, schools and religious centers.
The NAPCA Senior Help Center can be contacted by: Phone message: 1-800-683-7427 (Mandarin), 1-800-582-4218 (Cantonese), 1-800-336-2722 (English), electronic Email: [email protected], mail: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 Third Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101.
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2023-09-30 05:58:00
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