Protect yourself and those around you from illnesses like COVID-19 & flu.
People with disabilities are more likely to be hospitalized or die if they get illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu. These diseases are a part of our lives and we need to protect ourselves.
About Us
The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network was created to educate individuals in the disability community about the importance of vaccines like COVID-19 and flu, provide help to overcome barriers to getting vaccinated, and to help those who want to get vaccinated to get the shots.
Learn the Facts
1 in 3 South Carolinians has a disability. People with disabilities are at high risk of severe sickness and potential death from illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu. It is important that people with disabilities get vaccinated, but you may be worried about the vaccine. We are here to help you learn more to make the best decision about vaccination.
Lack of access to healthcare is the biggest barrier people with disabilities face when seeking illness prevention, treatment, and education.
In a survey done by the American Association on Health and Disability, 27% of adults with disabilities said they would not be vaccinated or were unsure, based on vaccine hesitancy.
Disabled people, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, or other people of color, are more likely to get sick with illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu and more likely to be hospitalized from getting sick.
Risks for BIPOC Communities
Disability intersects with every community, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Communities. If you are a disabled BIPOC person, you are at higher risk of getting very sick or dying from illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu. You can protect yourself with vaccination. Learn more about the unique risks and realities that affect disabled BIPOC communities in the special BIPOC section of our FAQ below.
Here’s the facts, everyone has the potential to get sick, but vaccines don’t just protect us, they protect our loved ones too. Check out this video from members of our community about who they got vaccinated for.
COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
Dangerous side effects of the vaccines such as COVID-19 and flu are rare, and some mild side effects are normal. Some people may experience normal side effects, like feeling a little groggy, for a few days after getting the vaccine.
Yes. Millions of people, including people with many different disabilities, in the US have received the vaccines like those for COVID-19 and flu, and all vaccines have undergone intense safety monitoring.
You can be in control of your health. It is important that you talk to your doctor about getting your vaccines, such as those for COVID-19 and flu. Always ask your doctor about what vaccines you may need, even if your doctor doesn’t bring it up first. They can help you make the decision and schedule an appointment.
With insurance, most vaccines like COVID-19 and flu vaccines are free at most pharmacies. However, sometimes a pharmacy or doctor might not take your insurance. Here’s some other low cost and free options to get your vaccines:
- Low-Cost & Free Vaccination Programs
- While COVID-19 and flu vaccines are free at most pharmacies with insurance, you may find that …
- Federal Programs:
- Vaccines for Children Program (VFC): Provides free vaccines for children under 18 who are uninsured or Medicaid-eligible.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Assistance Programs: Many states and counties offer free COVID-19 vaccines to individuals regardless of insurance or immigration status.
- State and local options:
- Additional Resources:
- GoodRx – GoodRx Vaccine Discounts can help you find affordable vaccine options near you.
National Vaccine Database:
- Vaccines.gov | Enter your zip code and find options nearby
National Pharmacies Offering Low-Cost or Free Vaccinations:
- SC Department of Public Health: COVID 19 Information | Phone: 1-855-472-3432
- CVS Pharmacy: CVS Vaccine Information | Phone: 1-800-746-7287
- Walgreens: Walgreens Vaccine Information | Phone: 1-800-925-4733
- Rite Aid: Rite Aid Vaccine Information | Phone: 1-800-748-3243
- Walmart Pharmacy: Walmart Vaccine Information | Phone: 1-800-925-6278
Local Options:
- Speak with your local pharmacy or healthcare provider about vaccine availability and any low-cost or free options they may offer.
Consult Your Healthcare Provider
- It’s always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective for you, especially if you have any medical conditions or allergies.
Yes. Immunity from illnesses like COVID-19, the flu, and even RSV doesn’t last long. Ask your doctor about when is the right time to get your vaccine if you’ve recently been sick.
As Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color (BIPOC) with Disabilities, you are at higher risk of being very sick or dying from COVID-19 and the flu. These are the facts:
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with disabilities have a higher risk of getting sick and having a hard time getting better.
COVID-19 and the flu can be very dangerous for people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities also have health conditions that make it easier for them to get sick or get very sick from the flu or COVID-19.
If you have disabilities that impact your muscle function, lung function, or you have difficulty coughing, swallowing, or drinking liquids, you have a higher risk of getting very sick from the flu or COVID-19.
You could also be at higher risk because of the following:
- The type of disability you have
- You have a hard time understanding medical information or directions
- You need one-on-one help from a direct service provider or family member to help you with daily living activities like getting dressed, eating, bathing, and taking your medicine.
- You have a hard time remembering to take care of things like taking showers and washing your hands.
- You have other concerns because of your disability or health condition
Your disability and the impact of race can make you have an even higher risk of becoming sick. If you have a disability and are a part of the BIPOC community, you are at even more risk than white people who may have a disability. If you get the flu or COVID-19, you are more likely to be hospitalized, put in intensive care, and die in the hospital.
Why do I have a greater risk of sickness than white people with disabilities?
- BIPOC with disabilities are at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 (Source 91 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021) and a higher risk of getting very sick and dying because of COVID-19 (Source 92 – COVID Tracking Project and the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, 2021 and Source 93 – Artiga, Corallo, and Pham, 2020).
- There is a gap in public health due to medical racism. Medical racism is when BIPOC are discriminated against in healthcare settings.
- The CDC reports that Black and Indigenous people are more likely to die from COVID-19. (Source 94 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
- Black people in the U.S. are 1.7 times more likely to die from COVID-19
- Indigenous people in the U.S. are more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19
- Latinx people in the U.S. are 1.8 times more likely to die from COVID-19 (than White, Non-Hispanic individuals). (Source 40 – Artiga, S. and Hill, L., 2022; Source 41 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022; Source 42 – Despres, C., 2022; Source 94- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
- You can lower your risk of death by getting vaccinated
- In South Carolina, a very large number of Black people have been in the hospital compared to the total number of Black people in the state
- Black people are 27% of the total population in South Carolina.
- Of all the people who have been in the hospital with COVID-19 in South Carolina, Black people make up 38%
- Of all the people who have died from COVID-19 in South Carolina, Black people make up 32%
- These numbers show that Black people in South Carolina are getting sicker and are more likely to die than others.
(Source 92 – COVID Tracking Project and the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, 2021)
- The CDC says people with 1 or more medical conditions are 1.5 times more likely to die from COVID-19. You can lower your risk by getting vaccinated (Source 2 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
- 1 in 3 people in South Carolina have a disability (Source 1 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
- Of the disability community in South Carolina:
- 33.6% of people with disabilities are Black (Source 95 – Disability and Health Data System, 2020)
- 35.1% of people with disabilities are Latinx (Source 95 – Disability and Health Data System, 2020)
- 48.7% of people with disabilities are Indigenous (Source 95 – Disability and Health Data System, 2019)
- Based on these numbers, BIPOC with disabilities are at an even greater risk of getting very sick and dying. You can help protect yourself by getting your flu shot and your COVID-19 vaccine
- Many people in South Carolina who get COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated means they have not received all of the recommended doses of the shot
- Most of the people who need care in the hospital because of COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated
- Most of the people who die from COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated (Source 96 – Mathieu, E., and Roser, M., 2021; Source 97- Montanez, A., and Lewis, T., 2022; Source 98- Jaramillo, C., 2022)
What other reasons put me at risk because of my disability and race?
- BIPOC with disabilities are at higher risk because of having a history of negative experiences with their medical care
- Your doctors may not always believe you when you share your health needs
- Your doctor may not always understand your disability
- As a disabled BIPOC, you may not have the same access to healthcare as everyone else (Source 99 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). This could be due to:
- where you live
- lack of access to medical care
- costs of medical care
- the type of disability you have.
Why should I trust the COVID-19 vaccine?
There are many historical reasons why Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color with disabilities might not trust medical companies or politicians who tell you to get vaccinated.
- You might be afraid to get the vaccine because of information that isn’t true
- You may have experienced trauma from the medical care you’ve received. Trauma can include serious physical or emotional harm
- You may be worried because information about your disability may not be included in the information you are getting about the vaccination
- Maybe you’re worried because the scientists keep changing the information
- Maybe you have read one thing about COVID-19, but a new thing you’ve read says something different
- Maybe the information is not shared in a way that you can understand
It can be hard to know what’s right or wrong. Here are the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Studies show these vaccines are safe for everyone, including BIPOC with disabilities
- These vaccines help slow the spread of COVID-19 and can help keep you from getting very sick
- Many independent groups, led by doctors of color, have done their own work to test the vaccines. They say the vaccines work and are safe (Source 24 – National Medical Association, 2020)
- Scientists of color, like Dr. Kissmekia S. Corbett, led work on these vaccines to protect communities of color and their families from getting very sick from COVID-19 (Source 25 – Harvard University, 2021)
- People in your community are getting the vaccine to stay healthy. Doctors of Color helped develop today’s vaccines. Know these Myths vs. Facts Read the stories of your community:
Community Stories:
I’ve already had COVID-19, so why should I get the vaccine?
- Vanessa waited to get the shot and then got COVID-19. She was very sick. After she got better, she decided to get the shot to protect herself from getting sick again. She shared her story with us.
- Otis Lee initially hesitated about getting his COVID-9 vaccine because he might still get sick anyway. As a person with a visual disability, he ultimately decided to get his shot to protect himself and others. He remains passionate about staying healthy. He shared his story with us.
Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have a disability?
- Jonathan was nervous about how his disability would be affected by the vaccine. After some time decided to get the shot to protect himself and his family. He hopes others he loves will get the vaccine too so we can be healthy together. He shared his story with us.
- Laquanda is Deaf and a double-hand amputee. She was nervous to get the shot when it first came available because she was pregnant and has disabilities. She decided to get her shot after talking to her doctor because she knew her disabilities put her at greater risk of getting very sick with COVID-19, and she wanted to be healthy for her kids. She is advocating for her family to do the same. She shared her story with us.
How does knowing someone who has already gotten their COVID-19 vaccine, and is doing well, encourage me to get the vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine has been available since 2020. This means you probably know one or more people who have gotten it and are doing well. This is good news for a few reasons:
- If you are nervous, it gives you someone to talk to about how it went for them
- Any common side effects they had will give you an idea of what might happen when you get the shot
- If they are a person with a disability, they can share how they found a vaccine site that makes them comfortable
- Hearing about another person’s experience might help you feel ready to make a decision about the vaccine
- You might not know that you know someone who’s gotten the shot, but don’t be afraid to ask around
- Having friends and family you can trust to talk about it goes a long way to help you feel more confident about getting the shot.
Why should I get these vaccines?
- Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color with disabilities are at greater risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19 and the flu.
- You can better protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
- You can get both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time (Source 100- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). The vaccines protect you from sickness
- Resources are available to help you get to vaccination sites
People can help you make your vaccine plan when you call the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046. They can help you make an appointment, arrange transportation, and answer your questions about getting vaccinated.
COVID-19: What is it?
COVID-19 is the nickname for coronavirus. COVID-19 is making people sick all over the world, including people in South Carolina. People with disabilities and underlying medical conditions are at more risk of getting sick with COVID-19.How do you get COVID-19? How does it make you sick?
- COVID-19 is spread through germs from people.
- These germs can be spread when someone who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or when their germs get into the air or on things you touch.
- If you get COVID-19, it can make you feel sick and tired and even make you go to the hospital.
- COVID-19 has made many people sick, especially people with disabilities and health conditions.
- Some of the things that happen when you have COVID-19 are (Source 64 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022):
- Have a cough
- Have a hard time breathing
- Have a fever
- Feel achy and tired
- Have new loss of taste or smell
- Have congestion, runny nose, or sneezing
- Have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Have a headache
- Have brain fog
- If you have brain fog, you might have trouble focusing or remembering information (Source 63 – Mayo Clinic Health System, 2022).
- If you are experiencing any of the following emergency warning signs of COVID-19 call your medical provider immediately:
- Having trouble breathing
- Having pain or pressure in the chest
- Having new confusion
- Having a hard time waking up and staying awake
- Have pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds. For people with darker skin, these symptoms may be harder to see
I have a disability. Why am I at a higher risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19?
1 in 3 people in South Carolina has a disability (Source 1 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people with 1 or more medical conditions are 1.5 times more likely to die from COVID-19 (Source 2 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). People with disabilities may have a higher risk of getting very sick or dying if they get COVID-19 because:- The type of disability you have can make you very sick if you get COVID-19.
- Your disability might mean you have a weaker immune system.
- COVID-19 can make the symptoms you already have get worse.
- If you have a breathing disability, getting COVID-19 can make it a lot harder to breathe.
- You may have limited mobility or cannot avoid coming into close contact with others who may be infected, such as direct support providers and family members who may care for you.
- You may have a hard time understanding information about COVID-19.
- You may have difficulty washing your hands and staying at least 6 feet away from others to protect yourself from COVID-19.
- You may have trouble communicating or explaining how you are feeling.
- Social factors may increase your risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
What social reasons put me at risk because of my disability?
Many other reasons may put you at more risk, such as where you live, lack of access to medical care, costs of medical care, and the type of disability you have. Please see below for some examples:Where you Live
- You might live far away from COVID-19 vaccination centers, testing sites, doctors’ offices, and other medical help.
- If you live in a care facility, you are at more risk of getting COVID-19 and dying from COVID-19 than people with disabilities who are not living in care facilities. (Source 67 – National Council on Disability, 2021)
- You may live in an area that does not have public transportation and/or do not have your own transportation.
- If you live far away from your doctor, you might not get help until much later.
Access to Medical Care
People with disabilities are at higher risk because going to the doctor’s office and getting care can be more challenging. Below are some of the reasons why going to the doctor’s office can be harder for people with disabilities.- You may not have been able to get to medical exams because the doctor’s office is not accessible.
- You may not have gotten proper care because the devices or medical table were not accessible.
- You may have felt like the nurses, doctors, or other medical staff had a negative attitude toward your or your disability.
- You may have had a hard time understanding what your doctor or medical staff were telling you.
- You may have felt your disability was ignored.
- You may have felt that the doctor or medical staff didn’t understand your disability.
- You may have gone to the doctor before and felt they didn’t know how to care for you.
- You may have felt that you did not get the treatment you needed.
Costs:
- You might not have health insurance.
- Without insurance, you might be less likely to go to the doctor or hospital because of the cost.
- You may have other costs like childcare, transportation, parking, or missing work that might make it harder to get to a free COVID-19 vaccination site.
Your type of disability, where you live, access to care, and cost are all things that might keep you away from the doctor or a testing site.
- If you can’t get tested, you don’t know if you have COVID-19.
- If you don’t know if you have COVID-19, you can accidentally give COVID-19 to other people.
- If you don’t know you have COVID-19, you might get very sick before getting help.
- You might not want to go to the doctor. If you don’t go to the doctor, you might not learn you are sick until much later, when you could be much sicker and have a hard time getting better.
What is a COVID-19 variant?
A COVID-19 variant is a version of the COVID-19 virus that’s just a little different from the version before it. Some of the most common differences are that COVID-19 variants can spread faster, spread more easily and can make you sicker. For example, the Alpha variant spread a little faster than the original version of the COVID-19 virus (Source 27 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Some of the variants that you might hear a lot about are the Delta variant, the Omicron variant, and the BA5 subvariant. That is because all of these variants spread easily and can make you very sick. Variants of viruses are common, and the CDC tells us these variants were expected. People with disabilities are generally at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 and are more likely to have worse outcomes or die from getting COVID-19 (Source 22 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022; Source 67 – National Council on Disability, 2021; Source 73 – Ferreira, V. and Solera J., 2022).As a person with a disability, how can I protect myself from COVID-19 variants?
The best way for people with disabilities to protect themselves from COVID-19 variants is by getting a COVID-19 vaccine and staying up to date with your shots. A vaccine may not stop you from getting sick, but it will help lower the risk that you will get very sick and go to the hospital with a COVID-19 variant. If you have already gotten your vaccine, staying up to date and getting a booster shot is another way you can help protect yourself from COVID-19 variants. Vaccines make your immune system stronger to fight the virus. Wearing a mask also lowers your risk of getting COVID-19 and all of the COVID-19 variants (Source 27 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Talk to your doctor, or another medical provider you trust, about which COVID-19 vaccine is the best for you. If you need help scheduling your vaccine or have questions, you can call the Disability Vaccine Access Hotline. You should also make sure to wear masks anytime you’re inside in a public place and wash your hands often.What is Long Covid?
Long COVID is also known as “post-COVID conditions,” “chronic COVID,” and “long-haul COVID-19.” Long COVID is the name for health problems or symptoms that someone has after having COVID-19. These health problems can start a month or more after having COVID-19 (Source 71 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).What are common symptoms of Long COVID?
Long COVID can impact any part of your body. There are many different symptoms that you could have if you have Long COVID. Some of the things that happen when you have Long COVID are (Source 71 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022):- Have a cough
- Have a hard time breathing
- Have a fever
- Feel achy and tired
- Have loss of taste or smell
- Have congestion, runny nose, or sneezing
- Have stomach pain or diarrhea
- Have a headache
- Have brain fog
- If you have brain fog, you might have trouble focusing or remembering information (Source 63 – Mayo Clinic Health System, 2022).
- Have trouble sleeping
- Have chest pain or a fast heartbeat
- Have depression or anxiety
- Your symptoms may get worse after physical or mental exercise
How long can Long COVID symptoms last?
- Long COVID can last weeks, months, or even years. Doctors and scientists are still doing research to find answers to this question.
What do I need to know about Long COVID?
- You are more likely to get Long COVID if you are unvaccinated.
- Even if you have a mild case of COVID, you can still get Long COVID.
- There is not a single test that doctors use to find out if you have Long COVID. It is important to keep track of your symptoms so you can give your doctor as much information as possible.
What are some tips for talking to my doctor about Long COVID?
Some tips for talking to your doctor about Long COVID are (Source 77 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022):- Write down all sicknesses you have or might have had
- If you’re seeing a new doctor, write down all the other doctors that you’ve seen
- Write down when you had COVID-19 and any symptoms you had
- Write down when you started having symptoms again after testing negative for COVID-19
- Write down what tests you’ve had done for doctors to learn more about the symptoms you’re having
- Be ready to tell your doctor what medicines you take
- Ask for an appointment summary to keep track of what your doctor tells you
- Ask your doctor to write down any instructions they give you
How do I protect myself from getting COVID-19?
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Stay away from large groups of people.
- Wear a face mask when you are around other people. Learn more about masks by reading our eblast on masks at this link.
- Get your COVID-19 vaccine and stay up to date with recommended updates.
What is a vaccine?
A vaccine is a type of shot with medicine. The medicine in a vaccine fights the virus and helps protect you from getting sick.
Why are people getting vaccines?
People get a vaccine to make it easier for their bodies to fight illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu.
Continue reading for specific questions about COVID-19 and flu vaccines:
What COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States?
In the United States, the vaccines that have been approved are:
- Pfizer BioNTech
- Moderna
- Novavax
The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for people 6 months and older (Source 84- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for people 6 months and older (Source 84- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
Novavax has been approved for people ages 12 and older (Source 62- Food and Drug Administration, 2023).
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective; they have been evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials (Source 56 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
Who should get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines?
Everyone. Vaccines are available to people ages 6 months and older. (Source 84, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
Here’s the latest update for this winter season:
CDC Recommends New 2024-2025 COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines for Fall/Winter
The CDC recommends getting the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect against serious illness this fall and winter.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines on August 22, 2024. The new shots will be available through your pharmacy and doctor’s office within a week.
It is safe to receive both vaccines at the same time. Vaccination is crucial to prevent severe cases that might result in hospitalization or death.
COVID-19 Vaccine:
Everyone aged 6 months and older should get the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, even if you have been vaccinated before. This new vaccine will protect against the latest COVID-19 variants that are making people sick. Schedule to get your updated COVID-19 vaccine with your pharmacy or healthcare provider today.
Flu Vaccine:
The CDC also recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the updated 2024-2025 flu vaccine. The best time to get vaccinated is in September or October, but some people may need to get it earlier:
Pregnant women in their third trimester can get the flu shot as early as July or August to protect their newborns.
Children who need two doses should get the first dose as soon as the vaccine is available, with the second dose given four weeks later.
Vaccination is essential for preventing serious illness from COVID & Flu. For more information on the importance of vaccination to the disability community, visit Able SC’s updated SC Disability Vaccine Access Network page.
Sources for this information:
Washington Post, New coronavirus vaccines are now approved. Here’s what to know.
What is emergency use authorization?
An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) happens when supplies or medicine like a vaccine are needed quickly in an emergency. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of an emergency.
- In an emergency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power to approve a vaccine quickly.
- In an emergency, the supplies or medicine will help prevent a specific disease like COVID-19.
- Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) does not mean that important steps were skipped in making the vaccines safe.
Does the COVID-19 vaccine have the virus in it?
No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the United States contain the live virus. All three vaccines give your immune system the tools it needs to attack the COVID-19 virus. Each vaccine does this in different ways (Source 45 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
What is a protein subunit vaccine, and how does it work?
Novavax is a protein subunit vaccine.
- When making protein subunit vaccines, scientists only use parts of the virus that do the best job of giving your immune system what it needs to fight COVID-19.
- This type of vaccine contains S proteins that are harmless.
- When your body recognizes the proteins, in response, your immune system makes antibodies and white blood cells (Source 58 – Mayo Clinic, 2022).
- This type of vaccine has been used for many years. Examples include flu, Hepatitis B, and Whooping Cough vaccines (Source 59 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
- This type of vaccine is different from the mRNA vaccines because it contains something called an adjuvant (Source 5 – Katella, 2022).
- An adjuvant is an ingredient used to increase your immune system’s response. They have been used for many years in a variety of vaccines and are very safe (Source 61 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
What is an mRNA vaccine, and how does it work?
Moderna and Pfizer are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.
- These vaccines deliver a tiny piece of safe genetic material from the virus to cells in the body.
- This material gives instructions for making copies of something called spike proteins.
- Spike proteins stimulate an immune response and produce antibodies.
- If your body is infected with the virus, your cells will remember and plan how to respond (Source 5 – Katella, 2022).
- After the spike protein is made, our body breaks down the mRNA and removes it.
- mRNA vaccines do not and can’t change or interact with your DNA.
- mRNA vaccines do not go to where DNA is located in our bodies (Source 6 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
- Even though this type of vaccine is new, research and development on it have been going on for over 50 years (Source 7 – Dolgin, 2021).
- The vaccines went through the same development and steps as other vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccines were developed quickly to save lives.
Why is the COVID-19 vaccine important for people with disabilities?
People with disabilities may have a higher risk of getting very sick or dying if they get COVID-19. This is because of many possible reasons listed below:
- The type of disability you have can make you very sick if you get COVID-19.
- Your disability might mean you have a weaker immune system.
- COVID-19 can make the symptoms you already have get worse.
- If you have a breathing disability, getting COVID-19 can make it a lot harder to breathe.
- You may have limited mobility. This can mean you can’t avoid being near other people who may be infected, like direct support providers and family members.
- You may have a hard time understanding information about COVID-19.
- You may have a hard time washing your hands and staying at least 6 feet away from others to protect yourself from COVID-19.
- You may have trouble communicating how you are feeling.
- Social reasons may increase your risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
People with disabilities at high risk must get the COVID-19 vaccine and follow up with recommended updates as soon as possible (Source 3 – International Disability Alliance, 2020).
COVID-19 is dangerous. The vaccine is not. The effects of COVID-19 are worse than the vaccine’s side effects (Source 10 – Rosenblum et al., 2021). Some people who get COVID-19 can stay sick for a long time. This sickness is called Long COVID. Long COVID is a disability. Getting your COVID-19 vaccine can help keep you safe from COVID-19 and Long COVID (Source 66 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
You should talk to your doctor if you think you may have a high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
What if I’m allergic to other vaccines?
You should still think about getting the COVID-19 vaccine even if you have allergies to other vaccines. If you have had an allergic reaction to other vaccines, talk with your doctor as the COVID-19 vaccine may be very different.
- Pfizer & Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines (mRNA) (Source 11 – Warren et al., 2021)
- Studies show that most allergic reactions to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are related to an ingredient used in the vaccine called Polyethylene Glycol (PEG).
- Most allergic reactions are to PEG, not the mRNA.
- Novavax COVID-19 Vaccines
- For the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, the ingredient that causes the most allergic reactions is Polysorbate (Source 62 -Novavax: FDA 2023).
PEG and Polysorbate are common ingredients in vaccines. PEG is a common ingredient in Gatorade or Miralax. Both of these ingredients have been known to cause allergic reactions in some people. Most people are not allergic to PEG or Polysorbate.
If you know you are allergic to one ingredient in the vaccines, ask your doctor if another vaccine would be better for you. You may still be able to get the vaccine because there are different kinds of vaccines (Source 12 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
You should still get the vaccine if you have other non-medical allergies, such as allergies to some foods, animals, or environments (Source 12 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
If you are worried about allergies, you should ask your doctor how to safely get the COVID-19 vaccine.
What is the difference between booster shots and updated vaccine formulas? What does it mean to be up-to-date on my COVID-19 vaccine?
- COVID-19 booster shots were doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that helped the protection from your first round of vaccine last longer.
- Scientists are now able to update the COVID-19 vaccines to protect against newer COVID variants.
- Updated vaccines are important because these variants can be easier to get and spread than the original virus.
- COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe sickness, keep you out of the hospital, and prevent death. Getting your COVID-19 vaccine can also help keep you safe from Long COVID (Source 66 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
- People with disabilities are at more risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19. Getting updated COVID-19 vaccines will help you protect yourself.
What is the difference between bivalent and monovalent shots?
- A monovalent vaccine has ingredients that fight one strain of a virus. The original COVID-19 monovalent vaccines and boosters were made to fight the original COVID-19 virus (Source 75 – Memorial Sloan Kettering, 2023).
The original COVID-19 vaccines were monovalent.
- The Novavax Vaccine and it’s boosters and updates are monovalent. Source 84, Source 53 – Washington State Hospital Association, 2022).
A bivalent vaccine has ingredients that fight two strains of a virus (Source 74 – Food and Drug Administration, 2022).
If you received an MRNA COVID-19 booster shot between September 2021-September 2022, you received a Bivalent booster shot. (Source 75: Memorial Sloan Kettering, 2023)
- These COVID-19 vaccine boosters contained mRNA from the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and a strain of the Omicron variant to fight against BA.4 and BA.5. (Source 75 -Memorial Sloan Kettering, 2023).
- The FDA and CDC recommended these bivalent boosters because those two strains of COVID-19 were circulating the most at that time.
Starting in September 2023, updated Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines were released. These are all monovalent vaccines.(Source 84: CDC 2023)
Receiving an updated vaccine now means that you have received a vaccine targeting the family of COVID-19 variants that are currently circulating the most. Starting in October 2023, the updated COVID-19 vaccines target the xbb.1.5 Omicron variant (Source 84: CDC 2023)
Do the updated COVID-19 vaccines have different side effects?
- Side effects from the updated vaccines are similar to the side effects from the original COVID-19 vaccines.
- Most side effects are redness and swelling where you got your vaccine. You may also have fatigue, headache, fever, and joint pain (Source 75 -Memorial Sloan Kettering, 2023. Source 35, Johns Hopkins, 2023).
Which updated vaccine should I get?
- There are 3 options.
- Pfizer
- Moderna
- Novavax
Do children and adults get the same shot?
- (Source 84: CDC 2023; Source 87: American Academy of Pediatrics 2023)
- Children 12 to 17 will get the same updated vaccine as adults.
- Children 4 months to 11 years will get the same updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine formula as adults. Depending on their age and vaccine history, they may receive a smaller dose and/or additional dose.
- Pfizer:
- The dosage for children ages 5 years to 11 years is ⅓ of the adult shot.
- The dosage for children ages 6 months to 4 years is 1/10 of the adult shot.
- Moderna: Children ages 6 months through 11 years get half of the dose that children ages 12 years and older receive.
- Pfizer:
When should I get my updated shot?
Everyone is eligible for an updated COVID-19 vaccine as long as it has been at least 2 months since any older COVID-19 vaccine.
Getting your updated vaccine will help you stay up-to-date.
When should I get my updated shot if I have a weakened immune system?
What are additional doses for people with disabilities?
The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccines as the best way to keep protecting yourself and your community from COVID-19.
Everybody ages 6 months and older should get at least one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
An additional dose is different from a booster shot. If your disability causes a weakened immune system, you may need more doses of COVID-19 vaccine to best protect you from getting sick from the virus. Additional doses can make your immune system’s response to the COVID-19 vaccine better (Source 16 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
The number of additional doses you will need depends on:
- How many previous doses of COVID-19 vaccine you have received.
- Your age.
- You and your healthcare provider’s knowledge of your specific health needs.
People who support you should get the COVID-19 vaccine to help keep you healthy.
Sometimes the type of help you need can put you at a higher risk of getting COVID-19. You may have limited mobility. This can mean you can’t avoid being near other people who may be infected, like direct support providers and family members.
For example, you might be at more risk of getting COVID-19 if:
- You must come in close contact with others who help you, such as direct care providers, personal caregivers, teachers, and family members. People near you could have COVID-19 and spread it to you.
- You have trouble understanding information or practicing safety skills, such as hand washing, wearing a mask, and social distancing.
- You have trouble communicating when you are feeling sick.
Support people may include:
- Your family
- Your teachers
- Your personal caregivers
- Your direct care providers
People with disabilities are at more risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19. When your support people get their vaccine and recommended updated shots, they can help protect you better.
It is important for you to get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccination by getting your vaccines every year.
SAFETY: I have a disability, and I’m nervous about the vaccine. How do I know it’s safe and works for me?
COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from getting very sick or dying from COVID-19. They can also protect you from getting long covid (Source 71 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). The effects of COVID-19 can be much worse for a person with a disability than any of the side effects of the vaccine (Source 10 – Rosenblum et al., 2021).
People with disabilities are often much safer if they get the vaccine. The vaccines do not give you COVID-19.
Getting COVID-19 and long COVID is much worse than any vaccine side effects (Source 72 – Reno, 2021).
Let’s learn about the normal side effects you may have from getting vaccinated and why the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for everyone, including people with disabilities.
Are there side effects from the shots?
Some people might experience side effects from the shots, and others will not.
- Side effects might include pain, redness, or swelling where you got the shots.
- Other side effects you might have are:
- fever
- pain
- chills
- headache
- nausea
If you have any of these side effects, it can mean the vaccine is working. Your body is learning to protect itself against COVID-19. Side effects should go away after a few days. If you are worried about any side effects you have, you should contact your doctor.
When you get your COVID-19 vaccine, you can sign up for V-Safe. V-Safe is an after-vaccine health checker available online. Signing up for V-Safe will allow you to report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) how you are feeling after you get your shot. Sharing how you feel after vaccination helps the CDC monitor the safety of the vaccine. (Source 90– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).
I worry about how the vaccines will impact my disability and health condition. Why should I get vaccinated?
Without the COVID-19 vaccine, you have the greatest risk of getting very sick, going to the hospital, and dying. You are also at higher risk of developing long covid (Source 71- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
People with disabilities may have a higher risk of getting very sick or dying if they get COVID-19 (Source 18 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). This is because of many possible reasons listed below:
- The type of disability you have can make you very sick if you get COVID-19
- Your disability might mean you have a weaker immune system
- COVID-19 can make the symptoms you already have with your disability get worse
- If you have a breathing disability, getting COVID-19 can make it a lot harder to breathe
I heard the vaccines give you the COVID-19 virus. Is that true?
No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the United States contain the live virus. The vaccines approved in the United States are the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna vaccine, and the Novavax vaccine,. The shots do not use the live virus. They can’t make you sick with COVID-19 (Source 19 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
Why should I bother getting vaccinated if I can still get COVID-19?
In most cases, the COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from becoming sick and going to the hospital if you test positive for the virus. It can also protect you from getting long covid.
- Most of the people who are in the hospital with COVID-19 have not been fully vaccinated. This means they have not gotten all of the recommended doses of the vaccine.
- You can still catch the virus from someone after you get the vaccine. This is called a breakthrough infection.
- If you got the vaccine and still get COVID-19, you could likely have mild symptoms. The vaccine helps you not get as sick as you could if you were not vaccinated.
- Getting vaccinated is your best chance at protecting yourself from getting very sick, going to the hospital, or dying from COVID-19 (Source 20 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
I’ve already had COVID-19, so why should I get the vaccine?
It is possible to become sick with COVID-19 more than once. Scientists learned getting the vaccine may better protect you from COVID-19 (Source 21 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021) and long COVID.
- After getting sick with COVID-19, you may have “natural immunity.”
- Natural immunity from COVID-19 happens when your body produces antibodies to fight off COVID-19 after you have been exposed to or gotten sick with the virus.
- This natural immunity does not last very long.
- Natural immunity may not protect you from COVID-19 variants (Source 21 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021. Source 35, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023).
- Talk to your doctor about your COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself and your community.
TRUST: I don’t trust the information I’m getting about vaccines. Why should I trust the vaccine now?
When vaccines were first made available in 2020, some doctors wanted more information for their patients with disabilities. At that time, your doctor may have told you to wait to get vaccinated. Since then, we know COVID-19 vaccines are safe for many people with disabilities.
Some people are still worried about trusting the vaccine, especially if they have a disability. Let’s talk about common questions about vaccine trust:
I heard the vaccine was made quickly. Why should I trust it?
The COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. (Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, were developed in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. A pandemic is a widespread sickness that affects the whole world.
- Research that led to these types of vaccines has been going on for over 50 years.
- The COVID-19 vaccine went through the same steps as other vaccines.
- The COVID-19 vaccines were just made quickly to save lives.
- COVID-19 vaccines were made thanks to funding and scientists around the world working together (Source 19 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
- The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and are proven to work for people with disabilities (Source 22 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
- People with disabilities are at greater risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19 due to:
- Medical conditions
- Group living settings
- Issues in the health and social systems that are not fair or equal
- (Source 22 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
- Talk to your doctor about your COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself and your community.
Why should I trust the vaccine is safe for me?
Due to discrimination, people with disabilities might not trust medical companies or politicians who encourage vaccination. Even though you may not trust medical companies or politicians to protect the disability community, COVID-19 vaccines help us protect our community. (Source 23 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
- You might be afraid to get the vaccine because you were told something scary about the vaccine.
- You might not trust the vaccine because you got some wrong information.
- You may have experienced trauma from the medical care you’ve gotten. Trauma can include serious physical or emotional harm.
- You may be worried because information about your disability may not be included in what you’ve learned about the vaccine.
- Maybe you’re worried because vaccine information is often changing and updating.
- Maybe you have read one thing about COVID-19, but a new thing you’ve read says something different.
- Maybe the information is not shared in a way that you can understand.
It can be hard to know what’s right or wrong. Here are the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Evidence shows these vaccines are safe for many people, including people with disabilities (Source 23 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
- The vaccines help slow the spread of COVID-19 and lower the chances of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19.
- The vaccine can protect you from getting long covid.
- Many independent groups, including those led by doctors of color, have done their work to test the vaccines. They say the vaccines work and are safe (Source 24 – National Medical Association, 2020).
- Many government officials, including all living U.S. presidents and current governors, got COVID-19 vaccines (Source 26 – Link, 2021).
How does knowing someone who has already gotten their vaccine, and is doing well, encourage me to get the vaccine?
- The COVID-19 vaccine has been available since 2020. This means you probably know one or more people who have gotten their vaccine and booster and are doing well. This is good news for many reasons:
- If you are nervous, it gives you someone to talk to about how it went for them.
- Any common side effects they had will give you an idea of what might happen when you get vaccinated and boosted.
- If they are a person with a disability, they can share how they found an accessible vaccine site.
- Hearing about another person’s experience might help to give you confidence.
- You might not realize you know someone who’s gotten the vaccine, but don’t be afraid to ask around.
- Having friends and family you know you can trust goes a long way to help you feel more confident about getting the vaccine.
It is important for you and the people with disabilities around you to get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccination by getting your vaccines every year.
I’m concerned about the vaccine for people in my life. How does it impact children, older adults, or pregnant people, including those with disabilities?
Can children get vaccines for COVID-19 or the flu?
Yes, children can get the vaccines for COVID-19 and the flu, including children with disabilities (Source 28 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
Vaccines are available to people ages 6 months and older.
Important information about children and COVID-19 vaccination:
- Food and Drug Administration research shows that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine caused an immune response in ages 6 months to 4 years of age comparable to that of older adults (Source 55 – Food & Drug Administration, 2022).
- Research also shows that the immune response for the Moderna vaccine in children was comparable to the immune response to that of adults (Source 55 – Food & Drug Administration, 2022).
- At this time, the COVID-19 vaccine has not caused any severe side effects in children. Those side effects reported have been mild. (Source 54 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
- Without vaccination, children risk:
- Having serious long-term or lifelong health effects from COVID-19
- Getting so sick they need to go to the hospital
- Death caused by COVID-19
- This risk is greater for children with disabilities
- The CDC recommends vaccination as soon as possible to protect all children from COVID 19 (Source 54 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
- Children who get the vaccine are less likely to miss school due to COVID-19 because they are less likely to get sick (Source 29 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021; Source 76 – Sick-Samuels, A., M.D., M.P.H., and Messina, A., M.D., 2022).
- Vaccination slows the spread of COVID-19. Slowing the spread of COVID-19 will help protect everyone, especially children with disabilities (Source 30 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022; Source 76 – Sick-Samuels, A., M.D., M.P.H., and Messina, A., M.D., 2022).
- The best way to protect children from Long COVID is to not get sick in the first place. Staying up to date on their vaccines will help your children stay healthy. Symptoms for Long COVID vary for each person and child. Weakness, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and a cough are some of the most common Long COVID symptoms for children. Other long-term effects can be emotional stress or heart damage. Children who had more than one COVID-19 symptom are at more risk for Long COVID. (Source 81 – Unicef, 2022; Source 82 – UC Davis Health, 2022).
- Parents and caregivers:
- If you have a child with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation to get the vaccine, please make sure to tell the vaccine provider when you schedule your child’s appointment.
- A reasonable accommodation could be a quiet room or the ability to have a trusted person present (Source 29 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
- The South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline can help you schedule your child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
- The South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline can help people with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers.
- You can reach the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046
Can someone be too old to get vaccinated for COVID-19 or flu?
No. If you are older than 6 months old, you can get a COVID-19 or flu vaccine (Source 28 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
Should older adults get vaccinated against COVID-19?
Yes. People 65 years of age and older are at higher risk of becoming very sick and dying from COVID-19. The vaccines are 94% effective at protecting older adults from severe sickness and hospitalization (Source 31 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021 and Source 32 – Administration for Community Living, 2021).
Should people living in nursing or group homes get vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu?
Yes, people living in group care facilities—such as nursing or group homes—should get vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu. It is hard to protect yourself if you live with people and new staff are coming in and out of your home. People ages 65 and older and those with disabilities are at higher risk of having to go to the hospital or dying from COVID-19 or flu. For individuals who are living in group care facilities, the risk of catching the virus is higher. A large number of COVID and flu-related deaths have been of people who lived in facilities. These numbers were even higher early in the pandemic before vaccines were available. You still have more risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19 or flu if you live in a care facility. Staying up to date on your vaccinations and booster shots is important to lower your risk. (Source 33 – United States Department of Justice, 2021; Source 34 – Paulin, E., 2022; Source 32 – Administration for Community Living, 2021).
I’m thinking about having kids. I heard the COVID-19 vaccine can make me unable to have children. Is this true?
No. There is no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19, cause fertility problems or difficulty becoming pregnant in people with or without disabilities.
- Many people have become pregnant and had healthy births after getting their vaccine, including people with disabilities.
- Antibodies made after vaccination will not cause problems with fertility or becoming pregnant.
- Many people that have gotten their COVID-19 vaccine, and their boosters have become pregnant and had healthy babies.
- Vaccine ingredients do not cause problems with fertility or getting pregnant (Source 36 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
If I’m pregnant or breastfeeding, should I get vaccinated?
Yes. The CDC recommends all people ages 6 months and older get vaccines including those for COVID-19 and flu. This includes people who are pregnant and disabled people who are pregnant.
The following is more specific information about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant and breastfeeding people:
- If you are pregnant and unvaccinated you have a higher chance of getting very sick from COVID-19.
- This also means you also have higher chances of having pregnancy difficulties. Getting vaccinated means more protection for you and your baby from COVID-19 (Source 89 – Hassan, A., 2022).
- If you are pregnant and unvaccinated, there are also increased risks to your fetus. Some of these risks can include:
- harming the fetus’s brain development
- higher chance of miscarriage (the loss of the fetus because the fetus is not developing normally)
- hurting the fetus’s ability to breathe
- higher chance upon birth for the baby to need intensive care (Source 88 – Mandavilli, A , 2022).
- If you are pregnant and get COVID-19, you have a higher chance of going to the hospital than someone who is not pregnant (Source 37 – Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 2021)
- If you are pregnant and get COVID-19, you also have a higher chance of needing more intensive care and needing a ventilator (Source 88 – Mandavilli, A , 2022).
- COVID-19 is more dangerous for pregnant people with disabilities (Source 38 – Satin & Sheffield, 2021).
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and a person with a disability, you should get a COVID-19 vaccine. There are also many benefits to getting vaccinated for both the fetus and yourself. Here is the good news:
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe for both the pregnant person and their baby before birth, including those with disabilities.
- People who got the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines when pregnant build antibodies that may protect their baby from COVID-19. Vaccination during pregnancy has shown infants to have stronger antibody levels than babies born to pregnant people who did not get the vaccine and had COVID-19 before (Source 69 – Cunningham, J., 2022). A pregnant person getting vaccinated also reduces the risk of a baby having to go to the hospital because of COVID-19 (Source 70 – Jamieson, D. and Rasmussen, S., 2022).
- People who are breastfeeding and vaccinated can pass good protective antibodies to their baby through their breast milk. This may protect the baby from COVID-19 (Source 39 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).
Still have questions about pregnancy, fertility, and COVID-19 vaccination? Learn more about the topic and hear from a pregnant person who got vaccinated and delivered a healthy baby who has grown into a healthy child!
It is important for seniors, babies and children, pregnant people and those who are breastfeeding to get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccination by getting your vaccines every year.
It is especially important for those with disabilities!
If you have family and friends with disabilities, read this:
You should get vaccinated to protect those you love. The CDC recommends all people ages 6 months and older get the vaccine. This includes you! There are many reasons, you should get vaccinated for the people with disabilities around you. Below are some reasons why you should be vaccinated.
- Some of your family and friends with disabilities may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19, becoming very sick, and dying (Source 17 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
- If you are living with someone with a disability or are offering care that is in close contact, you can easily spread COVID-19 to them, if you are infected.
- Vaccination decreases the spread of COVID-19. Decreasing the spread of COVID-19 protects others, especially people with disabilities who are at high risk. This protection doesn’t always last, which is why it is so important to stay up to date with your booster shots (Source 30 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022; Source 60 – Scully, R.P., 2022).
- People get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19.
- The vaccine makes it easier for your body to fight COVID-19. If it is easier for your body to fight infection, then you could resume being near a person with a disability who may be at high risk much sooner.
- COVID-19 is dangerous. The vaccine is not. The effects of COVID-19 can make you and those you may care for very sick and even cause death. The side effects of a vaccine are temporary, if you experience any at all (Source 10 – Rosenblum et al., 2021).
- To keep people with disabilities in your life healthy, you should get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine will protect you and your family and friends with disabilities.
If you have any questions at all about the vaccine, please talk with your doctor to decide what’s best for you.
If you need help, the South Carolina Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046 can help you schedule your vaccine and booster.
If you are a direct service provider or teacher to those with disabilities, read this:
You should get vaccinated to protect those you serve, teach, and care for. The CDC recommends all people ages 6 months and older get the vaccine. This includes you! Because you work with people with disabilities, you should get the vaccine to help protect them from getting sick or even dying. Below are a few other reasons why you may want to think about getting vaccinated and boosted.
- Direct service providers and teachers are often required to work in close contact with others. Working in close contact puts them at greater risk of being infected with COVID-19. People with disabilities often have many different service providers working with them which increases the risk of spreading COVID-19 to them.
- Direct service providers, caregivers, and teachers are in the same risk category for COVID-19 as other healthcare workers.
- People with disabilities are at higher risk of getting COVID-19, becoming very sick, and dying.
- People get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19.
- The vaccine makes it easier for your body to fight COVID-19 should you still become infected. If it is easier for your body to fight infection, then you can resume your job sooner.
- COVID-19 is dangerous. The vaccine is not. The effects of COVID-19 can make you and those you care for very sick and even cause death. The side effects of a vaccine are temporary, if you experience any at all (Source 10 – Rosenblum et al., 2021)
- It is important to protect yourself and those you work with by getting vaccinated. Vaccination can keep you and the people you care for out of harm from COVID-19 (Source 30 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
- For more information, please see the CDC’s guidance for Direct Service Providers.
Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine will protect you and those you care for with disabilities.
If you have any questions about the vaccine, please talk with your doctor to determine what’s best for you.
If you need help, the South Carolina Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046 can help you schedule your vaccine and booster.
It is important for you and the people with disabilities around you to get vaccinated and stay up to date with vaccination by getting your vaccines every year.
COST: I have a fixed income. What is the vaccination going to cost me?
IS the COVID-19 Vaccine Still Free?
There have been some changes in how the COVID-19 vaccine will be paid for. Keep reading to learn how these changes affect you.
When the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended in May 2023, the federal government stopped purchasing COVID-19 vaccines for the whole country. (Source 44 –U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
All new COVID vaccines are now commercialized—this means that pharmacies must purchase the vaccines from their regular vaccine suppliers. (Source 44 –U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
This also means that vaccine providers can now bill your insurance for the cost of your vaccine.
How Will I Pay for My Vaccine Now?
IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE:
The COVID-19 vaccinations will remain available free of charge to people who have insurance.
- This includes people who have Medicare and Medicaid.
- This includes people who have health insurance market place plans.
- People who have private insurance should also be able to continue to get their COVID vaccines without a co-pay.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source 52– Centers for Disease Control) “All Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most private insurance plans must cover certain vaccines without charging a co-payment or coinsurance when provided by an in-network provider. This is true even for patients who have not met a yearly deductible.” The COVID-19 vaccine is one of these qualifying vaccines.
What if I Do Not Have Insurance or Cannot Afford the Co-pay?
There are still some resources to help you afford your shot:
- Low-Cost & Free Vaccination Programs
- While COVID-19 and flu vaccines are free at most pharmacies with insurance, you may find that …
- Federal Programs:
- Vaccines for Children Program (VFC): Provides free vaccines for children under 18 who are uninsured or Medicaid-eligible.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Assistance Programs: Many states and counties offer free COVID-19 vaccines to individuals regardless of insurance or immigration status.
- State and local options:
- Additional Resources:
- GoodRx – GoodRx Vaccine Discounts can help you find affordable vaccine options near you.
TRANSPORTATION: I don’t have a car or don’t drive. How am I supposed to get a vaccine?
The South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline can help you arrange transportation. You can reach the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046.
ACCESSIBILITY: I’m worried I won’t be able to access the vaccine site due to my disability.
The South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline can help you find sites that are accessible to your needs. You can reach the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046.
Your local health department has to give in-home vaccines and boosters if you can not leave your home to get your shots (Source 46 – Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990).
What accessibility accommodations can I ask for as a person with a disability?
Because of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, people with disabilities are guaranteed certain accommodations when getting their COVID-19 vaccine (Source 46 – Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990). These accommodations include
- Vaccine sites that are accessible to people with physical disabilities.
- Access to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters.
- Vaccine materials that include accessible formats, including
- Braille
- Large print
- Digital
- Plain language/easy read
- Access to in-home vaccines and booster shots
If you have not been given access to accommodations at a vaccination site, please contact the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046, and let us know.
People with disabilities have many laws that protect our rights. These rights mean that people cannot treat you badly just because of who you are as a person with a disability. You have the same rights to vaccines and boosters as people without disabilities.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that you cannot be treated unfairly because you have a disability. The ADA requires public and state agencies to provide accommodations, so people with disabilities have the same access to services as people without disabilities. The ADA also requires that agencies make sure that these accommodations are available for people with disabilities to get information in a way that meets their needs. These accommodations include any type of equipment to provide services and accessible technology like websites (Source 46 – Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990).
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects people with disabilities from being treated unfairly because of their disability. This law applies to organizations that get money from any Federal department or agency, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This includes many hospitals, nursing homes, mental health centers, and human service programs (Source 48 – Rehabilitation Act, 1973).
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a national law that states that federal agencies have to provide information in a way that is accessible to everyone with disabilities. If you need information differently because of your disability, federal agencies have to provide it (Source 48 – Rehabilitation Act, 1973).
- Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act states that you cannot be treated unfairly because of your race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. This protection includes making sure language help is available for people who speak limited English and making sure there are accommodations for people with disabilities to have access to services (Source 50 – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 2010).
If you were not treated fairly because of your disability, please contact the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046.
References
- Note: The CDC and FDA frequently update their COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccine information pages. The publication dates cited here are the dates available when these Frequently Asked Questions are updated.
Source 1:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 28). Disability & Health U.S. State Profile Data for South Carolina (Adults 18+ years of age). CDC. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/impacts/south-carolina.html
Source 2:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 14). Underlying Medical Conditions Associated with Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19: Information for Healthcare Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/underlyingconditions.html
Source 3:
International Disability Alliance. (2020, December 1). Reach the furthest behind first: Persons with disabilities must be prioritized in accessing COVID-19 vaccinations. IDA. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/sites/default/files/ida_recommendations_on_accessing_covid-19_vaccinations_final_01.12.20.pdf.
Source 4:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021, October 20). Covid-19 vaccines. Office of the Commissioner. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines.
Source 5:
Katella, K. (2022, July 20). Comparing the COVID-19 Vaccines: How Are They Different? Yale Medicine. Retrieved from
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison
Source 6:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 18). Understanding mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mRNA.html.
Source 7:
Dolgin, E. (2021, September 14). The Tangled History of mRNA Vaccines. Nature. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w.
Source 8:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 21). What do people with developmental disabilities need to know about COVID-19? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-developmental-disabilities.html.
Source 9:
Gleason, J., Fossi, A., Blonsky, H., Tobias, J., & Stephens, M. (2021, March 5). The Devastating Impact of Covid-19 on Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in the United States. NEJM Catalyst. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/CAT.21.0051.
Source 10:
Rosenblum, H.G., et al. (2021, August 13). Use of COVID-19 Vaccines After Reports of Adverse Events Among Adult Recipients of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna): Update from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, July 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2021 from, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7032e4.htm?s_cid=mm7032e4_w
Source 11:
Warren, C. M., Snow, T. T., & Lee, A. S. (2021, September 17). Assessment of Allergic and Anaphylactic Reactions to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines With Confirmatory Testing in a US Regional Health System. JAMA Network, 4(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.25524.
Source 12:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 25). COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Allergies. CDC. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/specific-groups/allergies.html?s_cid=10480:covid%20vaccine%20allergy:sem.ga:p:RG:GM:gen:PTN:FY21.
Source 13:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 26). Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination. CDC. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html.
Source 14:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, January 22). Tetanus Vaccination. CDC. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/tetanus/index.html.
Source 15:
US Food and Drug Administration. (2021, October 20). Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Additional Actions on the Use of a Booster Dose for COVID-19 Vaccines. FDA. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takes-additional-actions-use-booster-dose-covid-19-vaccines.
Source 16:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, October 18). COVID-19 Vaccines for People Who Are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised. Retrieved January 9, 2023 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html
Source 17:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (2023, October 12). “COVID-19 Vaccine.” Retrieved January 9 2024 from https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine
Source 18:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 11). People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 9, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html .
Source 19:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, Oct 4). Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html.
Source 20:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, Aug 16). COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/how-they-work.html.
Source 21:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, Sep 24). Immunity Types. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/immunity-types.htm.
Source 22:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 20). People with Disabilities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 23, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/humandevelopment/covid-19/people-with-disabilities.html.
Source 23:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 15). Finding Credible Vaccine Information. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/evalwebs.htm.
Source 24:
National Medical Association. (2020, December 21). Advisory Statement on Federal Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization Approval for Pfizer and Moderna Vaccine. NMA COVID-19 Task Force on Vaccines and Therapeutics. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.nmanet.org/news/544970/NMA-COVID-19-Task-Force-on-Vaccines-and-Therapeutics.htm.
Source 25:
Harvard University. (2021, May 11). Leading coronavirus scientist, Kizzmekia S. Corbett, to join Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to continue Vaccine Development Research. News. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/kizzmekia-corbett-joins-harvard-chan-school/.
Source 26:
Link, D. (2021, September 3). Fact check: ‘who’s vaccinated?’ all living presidents, governors; not most covid-19 victims. USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/09/02/fact-check-viral-post-vaccinated-politicians-doctors-little-off/5670809001/.
Source 27:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 1). What You Need to Know About Variants. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant.html.
Source 28:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (December 2022). COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens. Retrieved January 11, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/humandevelopment/covid-19-vaccination-for-youth.html
Source 29:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021, October 29). FDA Authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use in Children 5 through 11 Years of Age. FDA. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-emergency-use-children-5-through-11-years-age.
Source 30:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, December 14). Monitoring COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/how-they-work.html.
Source 31:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 2). COVID-19 Risks and Vaccine Information for Older Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/aging/covid19/covid19-older-adults.html#increased-risk
Source 32:
Administration for Community Living. (2021, November 11). Strategies for Helping Older Adults and People with Disabilities Access COVID-19 Vaccines. Administration for Community Living. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/ACLStrategiesVaccineAccess_Final.pdf
Source 33:
United States Department of Justice. (2021, April 2). Statement by the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leading a Coordinated Civil Rights Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19). United States Department of Justice. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-principal-deputy-assistant-attorney-general-civil-rights-leading-coordinated-civi
Source 34:
Paulin, Emily. (2022, April 14). COVID-19 Death Rate in Nursing Homes Plummets, but Experts Say It’s Still Too High. AARP. Retrieved, November 3, 2022, from https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2022/nursing-home-covid-19-report-april.html
Source 35:
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2023, October 6). “What to Know About the Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Fall/Winter 2023.” Retrieved January 11, 2024 from https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/what-to-know-about-the-updated-covid-19-vaccine-for-fall/winter-2023
Source 36:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 11). COVID-19 Vaccines for People Who Would Like to Have a Baby. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/planning-for-pregnancy.html.
Source 37:
Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine. (2021, October 5). COVID-19 Vaccination if You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/media/3040/COVID_vaccine__Patients_JULY_29_2021_final.pdf.
Source 38:
Satin, A., & Sheffield, J. (2021, August 23). The COVID-19 vaccine and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/the-covid19-vaccine-and-pregnancy-what-you-need-to-know.
Source 39:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 19). Vaccination Considerations for People Pregnant or Breastfeeding. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html.
Source 40:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 22). COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and Support. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 31, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/vaccination-provider-support.html
Source 41:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 19). Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 31, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fvaccines%2Fno-cost.html
Source 42:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, September 15). Covid-19 care for uninsured individuals. HHS.gov. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-care-uninsured-individuals/index.html.
Source 43:
U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2021, April 1). Fight COVID-19: Offer paid leave. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Paid-Leave-Credit-Snapshot.pdf.
Source 44:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, February 9). Fact Sheet: Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/02/09/fact-sheet-covid-19-public-health-emergency-transition-roadmap.html
Source 45:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 16). Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html
Source 46:
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 (1990). https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm.
Source 47:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2021, November 1). DHEC HOMEBOUND VACCINATION PROGRAM. SC DHEC. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/Library/CR-012993.pdf.
Source 48:
Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 701 (1973). https://www.eeoc.gov/rehabilitation-act-1973-original-text.
Source 49:
Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 1971 (1964). https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/CivilRightsActOf1964.pdf.
Source 50:
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 124 Stat. 119 (2010). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW-111publ148.pdf.
Source 51:
CDC Endorses ACIP’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations (2021, December 16). https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1216-covid-19-vaccines.html
Source 52:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, September 28). How to Pay for Vaccines. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/pay-for-vaccines.html
Source 53:
Washington State Hospital Association. (2022, October 25). Novavax monovalent COVID-19 boosters for ages 18+. Retrieved November 1, 2022 from https://www.wsha.org/articles/novavax-monovalent-covid-19-boosters-for-ages-18
Source 54:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, August 8). 6 Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccination for Children. Retrieved January 10, 2024 from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/planning/children/6-things-to-know.html
Source 55:
Food & Drug Administration. (2022, June 20). Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-and-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccines-children
Source 56:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 20). Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html
Source 57:
Food & Drug Administration. (2022, July 20). Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-emergency-use-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-adjuvanted
Source 58:
Mayo Clinic. (2022, July 20). Different types of COVID-19 vaccines: How they work.
Source 59:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 20). CDC Recommends Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine for Adults. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0719-covid-novavax-vaccine.html
Source 60:
Scully, Ruby Prosser. (2022, August 26). COVID Vaccines Slash Risk of Spreading Omicron – And So Does Previous Infection. Nature. Retrieved November 4, 2022 from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02328-0
Source 61:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 20). Adjuvants and Vaccines.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/adjuvants.html
Source 62:
Food and Drug Administration (2023, October 2017), “Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine , Adjuvanted.” Retrieved January 5, 2024 from https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-adjuvanted
Source 63:
Mayo Clinic Health System. (2022, March 29). Dealing with ‘brain fog’ from long COVID-19. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/brain-fog-from-long-covid-19
Source 64:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 11). Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 22, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.htm
Source 65:
Katella, K. (2022, October 20). Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine: Your Questions Answered. Yale Medicine. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/novavax-covid-vaccine
Source 66:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 11). Patient Tips: Healthcare Provider Appointments for Post-COVID Conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 8, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/post-covid-appointment/index.htm
Source 67:
National Council on Disability. (2021, October 29). The Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities. National Council on Disability. Retrieved August 23, 2022 from https://ncd.gov/sites/default/files/NCD_COVID-19_Progress_Report_508.pdf
Source 68:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 22). CDC Recommends Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0822-novax-vaccine.html
Source 69:
Cunningham, J. (2022, February 7). Study shows persistent antibodies in infants after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Massachusetts General Hospital. Retrieved August 31, 2022 from https://www.massgeneral.org/news/press-release/study-shows-persistent-antibodies-in-infants-after-covid-19-vaccination-in-pregnancy
Source 70:
Jamieson, D. and Rasmusse, S. (2022, July 14). Covid-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy — Two for the Price of One. The New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved August 31, 2022 from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2206730
Source 71:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 1). Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions. Retrieved November 2, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html
Source 72:
Reno, J. (2021, July 6). Vaccine Side Effects vs. COVID-19 Damage? There’s No Comparison. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/vaccine-side-effects-vs-covid-19-damage-theres-no-comparison
Source 73:
Ferreira, V. and Solera J. (2022, August 4). Immunocompromised in the Omicron Era. Retrieved August 31st, 2022 from https://microbiologycommunity.nature.com/posts/immunocompromised-in-the-omicron-era
Source 74
Food and Drug Administration (2022), FDA News Release: “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines as a Booster.” August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022 from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-pfizer-biontech-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-use
Source 75
Memorial Sloan Kettering: (2023, October 2). “2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness, Side effects, Safety, and More.” Retrieved January 9, 2024 from https://www.mskcc.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20possible%20side,%2C%20body%20aches%2C%20and%20fever.
Source 76
Sick-Samuels, A., M.D., M.P.H., and Messina, A., M.D. (2022, June 2022). COVID Vaccine: What Parents Need to Know. Retrieved August 23, 2022 from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-what-parents-need-to-know
Source 77
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 11). Patient Tips: Healthcare Provider Appointments for Post-COVID Conditions. Retreived August 17, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/post-covid-appointment/index.html.
Source 78
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, November 8). Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters. Retrieved January 9, 2024from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html.
Source 79
Food and Drug Administration. (2023, December 11)). Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines. Retrieved January 5, 2024 from https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccines
Source 80
Food and Drug Administration. (2023, November 1). Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines. Retrieved January 5, 2024 from https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/moderna-covid-19-vaccines
Source 81
Unicef. (2022, October). What parents need to know about long COVID in children. Retrieved November 1, 2022 from https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/long-COVID-children
Source 82
UC Davis Health (2022, July 22). International study identifies risks for long COVID in children. Retrieved November 1, 2022 from https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/international-study-identifies-risks-for-long-covid-in-children/2022/07
Source 83
Mckeever, Amy. National Geographic. (2022, July 29). How multiple COVID-19 infections can harm the body. Retrieved November 1, 2022 from https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2022/07/how-multiple-covid-19-infections-can-harm-the-body
Source 84
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023, November 3), Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination. Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized in the United States. Retrieved January 5, 2024 from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/interim-considerations-us.html#:~:text=Schedule%3A%20ages%206%20months%20through%2011%20years&text=The%20primary%20series%20doses%20are,completion%20of%20the%20primary%20series
Source 85
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022. December 9) “CDC Expands Updated COVID-19 Vaccines to Include Children Ages 6 months Through 5 Years.” Retrieved December 13, 2022, from: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s1209-covid-vaccine.html
Source 86
Food and Drug Administration (2022. December 8). Corona Virus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Updated (Bivalent) COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age. Retrieved December 13, 2022 from: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-updated-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-children-down-6-months
Source 87
American Academy of Pediatrics (2022, December) Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Dosing Quick Reference Guide . Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/
Source 88
Mandavilli, Apoorva. NY Times (2022, December 12). “The Covid Pandemic’s Hidden Casualties: Pregnant Women.” Retrieved January 11, 2023 from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/08/health/pregnant-women-covid-flu-vaccine.html?searchResultPosition=1
Source 89
Hassan, Adeel. NY Times (2022, February 11). “Recent studies underscore the dangers of pregnancy complications for unvaccinated women with Covid.” Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/12/health/new-studies-underscore-the-dangers-of-pregnancy-complications-for-unvaccinated-women-with-covid.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
Source 90:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024, January 22). V-Safe. Retrieved February 15, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/v-safe/index.html
Source 91:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 19). Health Equity Considerations and Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/race-ethnicity.html
Source 92:
COVID Tracking Project and the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. (2021, March 7). The COVID Racial Data Tracker. The COVID Tracking Project. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://covidtracking.com/race
Source 93:
Artiga, S., Corallo, B., & Pham, O. (2020, August 17). Racial Disparities in COVID-19: Key Findings from Available Data and Analysis. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/racial-disparities-covid-19-key-findings-available-data-analysis/
Source 94:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 28). Risk for COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death By Race/Ethnicity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-by-race-ethnicity.html.
Source 95:
Disability and Health Data System. (2019 & 2020). South Carolina Disability Estimates. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 2, 2022, from https://dhds.cdc.gov/SP?LocationId=45&CategoryId=DISEST&ShowFootnotes=true&showMode=&IndicatorIds=STATTYPE,AGEIND,SEXIND,RACEIND,VETIND&pnl0=Chart,false,YR4,CAT1,BO1,,,,AGEADJPREV&pnl1=Chart,false,YR4,DISSTAT,,,,,PREV&pnl2=Chart,false,YR4,DISSTAT,,,,,AGEAD.
Source 96:
Mathieu, E., and Roser, M. (2021, November 23). Our World in Data. How do death rates from COVID-19 differ between people who are vaccinated and those who are not?. Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://ourworldindata.org/covid-deaths-by-vaccination
Source 97:
Montanez, A., and Lewis, T. Scientific American (2022, June 7). How to Compare COVID Deaths for Vaccinated and Unvaccinated People. Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-compare-covid-deaths-for-vaccinated-and-unvaccinated-people/#
Source 98:
Jaramillo, C. FactCheck.org (2022, April 1). COVID-19 Data Comparing Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Continue to Be Available, Contrary to Viral Posts. Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://www.factcheck.org/2022/04/scicheck-covid-19-data-comparing-vaccinated-vs-unvaccinated-continues-to-be-available-contrary-to-viral-posts/
Source 99:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, December 10). Increased Risk Factors for Exposure: Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/racial-ethnic-disparities/increased-risk-exposure.html.
Source 100:
Harris, K. (2021, November 22). OSF HealthCare Blog. Can I get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time?. Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://www.osfhealthcare.org/blog/getting-multiple-vaccines/
Schedule Your Vaccine
Let’s protect ourselves, family, friends, and others in the disability community against illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu.
- The South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline can help you schedule your vaccine appointment.
- The South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline can help people with disabilities, families, and caregivers.
- You can reach the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046
- To find COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccine providers in your area, you can go to vaccines.gov and enter your zip code, city, or state. The website will bring up listings for vaccine providers in your area. The website will also provide you with the contact information to schedule your shot.
It can be hard to know where to find information and help to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network is here to help people with disabilities and friends of the disability community plan the steps needed to get vaccinated and feel confident that they have made a personal, informed decision to get the vaccine.
Resources
Below are some additional resource pages you may find useful as you prepare to get your vaccinations.
COVID Care for Uninsured Individuals
SC Department of Public Health, COVID 19
Vaccine Appointment Transportation
You can get rides to and from vaccine appointments with Go Go Grandparent. Go Go Grandparent is a service that provides transportation and other services for a fee. First, you can book a vaccine appointment free of charge. Then you can book your ride for a fee. Find details about this program on the Go Go Grandparent website or call 773-377-5723 These rides are not free.
The South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline can also help you arrange transportation. You can reach the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046.
South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline
If you are not able to book an appointment online or want to get more information about the COVID-19 or flu vaccines, give us a call at the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline (1-800-787-6046) to talk to our team about getting vaccinated. Through the hotline we can:
- Address any concerns you might have about getting the vaccine
- Help you find a trusted medical professional
- Assist with vaccine appointment scheduling
- Navigate transportation to get your vaccine
- Answer some of the most common disability-related questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, and more.
About the SC Disability Vaccine Access Network
The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network is operated by a partnership of disability-focused organizations and funded by the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Administration for Community Living, the SC Department of Public Health, and Partnering for Vaccine Equity. Special thanks to our partners Able South Carolina, Accessibility, Walton Options, Disability Rights South Carolina, South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council, University of South Carolina’s Center for Disability Resources within the School of Medicine, Family Connection, Healthy Laughter, Transgender Awareness Alliance, Rare Leaders, The Converge, the Filipino American Association, Latino Communications, E3 Foundation, PASOS, South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs, and the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce.