COVID-19 Vaccine
This page houses information and resources to help our patients and community be informed about COVID-19 vaccination.
Click Here for COVID-19 Vaccines Overview
MCV Pediatrics COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children ages 5 to 11.
- December 14th from 4 to 7 p.m.
- MCV Pediatrics, 528 N. First Street
- No appointment is necessary, but you can complete registration prior to arrival to shorten your wait time by clicking the link below.
- Children do not need to be Good Samaritan patients to attend this vaccine clinic
- A parent or guardian must accompany the child and bring their insurance card
COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
The Knox County Health Department now has a new scheduling system for the COVID-19 vaccine. The department will no longer be using the state's Our Shot scheduling system or 211. Knox County residents are able to book their COVID-19 vaccinations thru a new online website. Please use the link below to book any future appointments.
Schedule Your Vaccine Appointment
Knox County Public Health Immunization Clinic Hours
Pediatric, adolescent and adult standard immunications and COVID-19 immunizations
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Monday
- 7 A.M. - 12 P.M. Standard Immunizations
- 12 P.M. – 4 P.M. Moderna COVID-19
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Tuesday
- 7 A.M. – 4 P.M. Standard Immunizations
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Wednesday
- 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. Pfizer COVID-19
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Thursday
- 7 A.M. – 12 P.M. Standard Immunizations
- 12 P.M. – 4 P.M. Moderna COVID-19
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Friday
- 7 A.M. – 12 P.M. Standard Immunizations
- 12 P.M. – 4 P.M. Pfizer Covid-19
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One Saturday Each Month
- 10 A.M. – 12 P.M. Standard Immunizations and Pfizer
WALK-INS WELCOME ANY TIME
Call for Homebound Service and Saturday Schedule
Telephone:
812-882-8700
Who Is Eligible to Receive the Vaccine?
Anyone age 5 and older may now schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. Click here to register or call 211 (866-211-9966) if you do not have access to a computer or need assistance.
When you enter a ZIP code to search for a vaccination site, you will find several vaccination locations near you. The site’s information will include which vaccine is likely available at the site. You can click “Find Next Available” to get to the soonest date and time. Zoom out on the map to expand your search. If you don’t see the vaccination site you’re looking for, it’s possible that all appointments are full.
Please note that anyone younger than 18 must receive the Pfizer vaccine. It is the only vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for that age group. Proof of age will be required at the time of vaccination.
Received the vaccine? Make sure you sign up for the v-safe after vaccination health checker.
Learn more about Indiana’s COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines at outshot.in.gov.
*As you become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, please ensure you complete the TWO STEP registration process. Initially, you will make an appointment then you will receive a text or email with a link to COMPLETE your registration. Completing this prior to arrival will decrease your wait at the clinic registration and ensure we have all of your information.
Schedule Your Vaccine Appointment
If you have difficulty registering online, please dial 211 from any phone for assistance.
Vaccine Booster Eligibility
Below is the stratification of eligibility for Pfizer boosters as recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The common principle is to provide a booster shot to those at highest risk for COVID-19.
- People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- People age 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- People age 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
- People age 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
Important note: FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and the CDC recommendations apply only to Pfizer at this time. Moderna and J&J data will be reviewed in the coming weeks.
Based on the above information ALL Healthcare Workers are eligible to receive a booster shot if originally vaccinated with Pfizer and it has been at least 6 months after the initial vaccination series.
CDC Information
FAQS About COVID-19 Vaccination
Understanding MRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
Ensuring the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines
8 Things to Know About about the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program
Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines
Here are some frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccines with answers from CDC data.
How Do We Really Know if COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe?
COVID-19 vaccines were tested in large clinical trials to make sure they meet safety standards. Many people were recruited to participate in these trials to see how the vaccines offers protection to people of different ages, races, and ethnicities, as well as those with different medical conditions.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carefully reviews all safety data from clinical trials and an authorizes emergency vaccine use only when the expected benefits outweigh potential risks.
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviews all safety data before recommending any COVID-19 vaccine for use. Learn how ACIP makes vaccine recommendations.
- FDA and CDC will continue to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, to make sure even very rare side effects are identified.
Is the Vaccine That Helpful? I Heard Getting COVID-19 Gives You Better and Longer Immunity Than the Protection a Vaccine Can Give. Can It Actually Make My Illness Worse if I Do End up Getting COVID-19?
Both this disease and the vaccine are new. We don’t know how long protection lasts for those who get infected or those who are vaccinated. What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice. Even with a vaccine, people are urged to continue practicing other precautions like wearing a mask, social distancing, handwashing and other hygiene measures until public health officials say otherwise.
What Is an mRNA Vaccine?
mRNA stands for messenger ribonucleic acid. mRNA is a genetic sequence that provides the blueprint for something to be developed in a cell (generally a protein). mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein-or even just a piece of a protein-that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
Can the Vaccine Alter Your DNA?
mRNA stands for messenger ribonucleic acid and can most easily be described as instructions for how to make a protein or even just a piece of a protein. mRNA is not able to alter or modify a person’s genetic makeup (DNA). The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enter the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA are kept. This means the mRNA does not affect or interact with our DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 vaccines that use mRNA work with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop protection (immunity) to disease. Learn more about how COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work.
How Much Will the Shot Hurt? Can It Cause You to Get Very Sick?
Most people do not have serious problems after being vaccinated. However, your arm may be sore, red, or warm to the touch. These symptoms usually go away on their own within a week. Some people report getting a headache or fever when getting a vaccine. These side effects are a sign that your immune system is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. It is working and building up protection to disease.
Will I Be Charged for the COVID-19 Vaccine?
No. Vaccine doses will be given at no cost to the patient. However, vaccination providers will be able to bill an administration fee to the patient's insurance company, therefore vaccine recipients will be asked for insurance information. Vaccine administration for uninsured patients will be covered by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund.
Can the Vaccine Cause Women to Become Sterile?
There is no evidence suggesting that this is a possibility.
Can People With an Egg Allergy Take the Vaccine?
The mRNA vaccine does not require the use of eggs or any other cells in the production or manufacturing process. Therefore, egg allergy is not a concern with this vaccine.
How Many People Received the Vaccine in Clinical Trials?
More than 40,000 people were part of the Pfizer vaccine trial. Nearly 40% were between 56 and 85, and there was a diverse patient population spanning 6 different countries enrolled.
More than 30,000 people were part of the Moderna vaccine trial, all of whom were in the United States. More than 7,000 patients were over 65, and 5,000 were under 65 but had high-risk chronic conditions. This study also had a very diverse patient population that is fairly similar to the diversity of the US population.
How Well Do the Vaccines Work?
Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people without evidence of previous infection. Click here to learn more about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses who had no evidence of being previously infected. Click here to learn more about the Moderna vaccine.
If the Vaccine Works Fairly Well After the First Dose, Why Do We Need to Get a Second Dose?
The number of antibodies produced after the second vaccination dramatically increases compared to receiving only a single dose. While a single dose certainly offers some protection, the second dose is expected to offer significantly longer protection.
What Side Effects Should We Expect From the Vaccine?
The most common side effects are similar to what may be expected from the influenza vaccine.Headache, fatigue, fever, muscle ache, and joint pain were among the most common. Pain at the site of injection is also common. Most of these reactions can be managed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. They may be uncomfortable, however.
We expect these types of reactions to occur when our immune system responds appropriately to this type of vaccine.
Will the Vaccine Affect My Mammogram?
You may experience enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit after a recent COVID-19 vaccination. This is considered a normal reaction to the vaccine. If enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit show up on your mammogram, it may require us to take additional mammogram images or ultrasound.
Based on the Society of Breast Imaging recommendations you should schedule your screening (no breast problems) mammogram BEFORE your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination or 6 weeks following your second dose of a COVID-19 vaccination.
Do not delay contacting your physician and having a diagnostic mammogram if you are experiencing any breast problems.
Which Patient Populations Have Not Been Studied?
Very young, very old:
- Only patients 16-85 years of age were included in the initial vaccine trial.
- Less than 200 patients who were 16-17 years old have received the vaccine at the time of study data cutoff.
- Patients 12 and older started to be enrolled in October.
Pregnant/breastfeeding:
- The studies did not include women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Although there are no signals for concern regarding teratogenicity (harm to the baby), data from clinical trials is not available for this group at this time
- The most recent position of American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) can be found here: ACOG COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance. Statements from Tri-State Perinatology and the Society for Maternal Medicine can be found at the following links:
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Pregnant and Nursing Women - Tri-State Perinatology
- COVID Vaccine for Pregnant & Breastfeeding - Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine
Risks associated with the COVID infection in pregnant patients can be found here:
Some immunocompromised patients:
- Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy (high dose systemic corticosteroids, some cancer drugs), were also excluded from the study.
- Patients with short-term corticosteroids could be included if it had been >28 days since receipt of these drugs.
- There are no specific safety concerns at this time in immunocompromised patients. There could be concerns related to lower level of efficacy/immune response, but this should be weighed against the fact that patients who are immunocompromised are at higher risk to have a poor outcome from COVID infections themselves.
- The FDA has stated that the vaccine may potentially be less effective in immunocompromised patients, but they did not state any safety concerns among this group.
When Will I Be Able to Get the Vaccine?
The federal government and state departments of health have set up guidelines for the timeline and prioritization of vaccine distribution. The schedule of these is based upon vaccine availability. At Good Samaritan, we are currently in Phase 1A, which includes frontline health care workers.
Do I Need to Get the Vaccine if I Already Had COVID?
It is currently unknown if people who have already had COVID will need to be vaccinated again. There is limited data on how long immunity lasts after an infection. The Indiana Department of Health and many other organizations are currently recommending to wait at least 3 months after being diagnosed with COVID to get the vaccine.
Will This Be a One-Time Vaccination, or an Annual Vaccine?
There has not been enough time to evaluate exactly how long antibodies are expected to last, so it is unknown at this time whether this will be an annual vaccination.
