A medical condition or immunosuppressive medications or treatments can classify a patient as immunocompromised. Conditions and treatments include but are not limited to:

• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within two years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.

Talk to your doctor if you have concerns or questions about the health of your immune system.

Yes, the CDC recommends that all individuals who receive the vaccine be observed for 15–30 minutes afterward. The exact time depends on your health history. When you sign the consent to receive the vaccine, you also agree to the waiting period. While reactions are extremely rare, it’s important that a medical professional verify that your body is handling the shot well. Staying for the waiting period also enables us to log your shot in your medical record and schedule a second dose. Please note that the waiting period is required after both doses.

It’s particularly important for individuals who are diabetic to eat normally and monitor their blood sugar. Receiving any shot while blood sugars are out of bounds increases the risk of complications. To help ensure a smooth experience, patients who are not diabetic should also make time for healthy meals and snacks.

On June 25, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added a warning to the Pfizer and Moderna patient fact sheets. These COVID-19 vaccines carry a very low risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, which cause inflammation of the heart or the tissue surrounding the heart. Cases usually occur in patients under 30 following the second dose. The CDC continues to recommend full COVID-19 vaccination as the benefits outweigh the risk of COVID-19 infection and its complications (hospitalization, severe illness, long-term health problems, and death). According to the CDC, “most patients with myocarditis and pericarditis who received care responded well to treatment and rest and quickly felt better.”

Washington state allows you to safely access your official vaccination record online through the MyIR website or MyIR mobile app. Once registered, you can access proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as well as childhood immunization information, for you and your children. Alternately, you may request a printed version of your immunization record from your provider’s office.

To access and share proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test with increased privacy, consider using MyChart. MyChart helps patients generate a personal QR code to keep on their smart device. Learn how at mychart.com/covid.

We know vaccines are safe. Kids ages 5-11 should get a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to increase their protection. As vaccination effectiveness wanes, and as more transmissible subvariants spread and infections rise, it’s important to increase the number of children who are protected.

Yes, it’s safe to get both vaccines at the same time—and in the same arm if you wish. Your immune system is smart and knows how to respond to both shots. Most childhood vaccines are given in groups, so it’s a very common practice.

Yes. Hundreds of millions of doses of the original mNRA have been safely given around the globe. The updated booster is modeled after the original vaccine and booster. This means it has a similar safety profile and side effects.

The updated booster increases people’s antibody levels, helping prevent COVID-19 infection and providing robust protection against severe disease and hospitalization. It’s expected to work at least as well as or better than the original booster.