News

For our recent Facebook Live community Town Hall event held on December 16, 2020, Emanate Health Chief Medical Officer, Gurjeet Kalkat, MD, gave the latest information on the pandemic and the new COVID-19 vaccine.

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Questions & Answers

What are the possible side effects of COVID-19?
Every vaccine has common side effects. The COVID-19 vaccine has side effects including pain in the injection area, fatigue or fever, which are consistent with other common vaccine side effects. If you have allergies to vaccines, you should not receive the vaccine.

If you’ve had Covid-19 can you still get the vaccine?
Yes. Medical experts suggest waiting 3 months before receiving the vaccine if you have tested positive for coronavirus.

When will the vaccine be available for Emanate Health employees?
We began inoculating staff and physicians beginning on December 17, 2020.

Can someone with allergies to foods medications receive the vaccine?
Yes.

How long will the protection from the vaccine last?
We do not know yet. Studies suggest up to 1 year.

Is the vaccine going to be required to travel or work?
Presently the vaccine is not mandatory for staff working at Emanate Health. Every employer will have their own criteria. We do not know what airlines and other countries will require for travel at this time. It is likely that airlines will want documentation of a vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test at the time of travel.

Will Emanate be vaccinating the general community?
No. Insurance companies will manage vaccine distribution for community members.

How long will it take for 70 percent of the population to receive the vaccine?
The vaccine is expected to be given to community members at the start of the second quarter of the year and may inoculate 70% of the population by the end of the 3rd quarter of 2021.

Will booster shots be needed down the road?
We do not know yet.

How do you change the minds of people who are not wanting the vaccine?
We will continue to cite examples of how vaccines have been able to save millions of lives throughout history. We have to believe in science. The risk to benefit ratio is clearly in favor of getting vaccinated. Many unnecessary deaths can be prevented.

There have been articles about how this may affect female fertility, do you have any information in this?
The Internet may have articles on theories which have not been proven. There has been no information on this vaccine affecting fertility.

Who will give the vaccinations?
Vaccines are administered by nurses or pharmacists who are qualified to do so.

Can a person with Huntington Disease or Myasthenia Gravis take this vaccine without issue?
There has been no literature stating Myasthenia Gravis or Huntington’s being a contraindication to getting vaccinated.

When do they expect to allow children to be vaccinated?
We expect the general population will be given the vaccines after March 2021.