If you plan on being vaccinated, have received a COVID-19 vaccine already, or have just become vaccine eligible, we have outlined a series of guidelines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recently released.
Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card
If you have received a COVID-19 vaccine, you should have been given a vaccine card that tells you which COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it and where your appointment took place. If you received or are in the process of receiving a two-dose vaccine, you should be given your card after receipt of your first dose, which will be updated upon your second dose. If you did not receive a vaccination card, contact the physical site where you received your vaccination or your state health department. If your card is lost, you may be eligible to receive a new card from the vaccination site.
Your vaccine card serves the purpose of keeping information about your vaccination record for personal reference and can be used to present proof of vaccination. It is important to keep your card in a safe place for future use; and taking a picture of the card is recommended so you have a digital backup.
Below are a few situations where you may use your vaccine card:
- If you receive a two-dose vaccine, you will want to bring your card to your second appointment.
- After you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you may be able to start participating in some activities that were put on pause due to the pandemic, such as traveling, attending events, entering venues and more. These activities may require proof of vaccination in the near future.
- Some businesses may offer perks to those who show they have received one of the available COVID-19 vaccines.
Click here for additional information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination card.
Traveling Safely
In a recent CDC announcement, the agency stated that fully vaccinated individuals may resume travel at a low risk to themselves without tests or quarantines within the U.S. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they’ve received their final vaccine dose.
As some locations still require negative COVID-19 tests before admitting travelers, vaccinated and un-vaccinated individuals must still comply with COVID-19 testing procedures in the area to which they are traveling, particularly if they are traveling internationally. To ensure the safety and health of every community, anyone considering travel should first research their destination’s rules regarding testing and other requirements before booking a trip.
Vaccinated individuals may still spread the virus even if the virus does not cause them to become ill. Therefore, it is essential to continue COVID-19 preventive measures recommended by the CDC when traveling, such as social distancing and wearing a mask.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Distribution Paused
According to a joint statement recently released by the CDC and FDA, distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine has been immediately paused. The news comes as 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S.
Of the 6.8 million vaccinated, there have been now eight reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Seven out of the eight cases being investigated occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48 and symptoms transpired 6 to 13 days after vaccination.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met Wednesday, April 14th, to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. Until that process is complete, the agencies have decided to put distribution of the J&J vaccine on pause out of caution for the public. It is important to note that pauses like this are common, and typically the investigations reveal that the medical problems found were a matter of coincidence.
As the CDC and FDA work to issue additional guidance on this matter in more detail, the CDC recommends the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for all eligible individuals. Keep in mind, all are encouraged to seek out valuable guidance on COVID-19 vaccines from federal, state, and local health officials. For additional information, click here.
It is our goal to guide you through ongoing health and wellness updates. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Creative Benefits, Inc. at 866-306-0200 or solutions@creativebenefitsinc.com.