COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. It was first discovered in December of 2019, with several variants becoming the most prevalent strain in circulation.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

As subvariants of omicron are currently the most prevalent, patients are experiencing more upper respiratory symptoms than earlier variants. Because initial symptoms are now “influenza-like,” you may need to see a doctor for testing to determine which virus you have.

The new ranking of symptoms for people who have received at least two doses of vaccine is: Sore throat

• Runny nose
• Blocked nose
• Persistent cough
• Headache

Reports of sneezing as a COVID-19 symptom emerged from people who'd had at least one dose of the vaccine. But sneezing was not widely reported by those who have remained unvaccinated; instead, they reported more often experiencing fever. The new ranking for the unvaccinated is:

• Headache
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Persistent cough

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the flu. Learn more about the differences. Ultimately, you may need a test to determine if you have COVID-19, and your doctor can help you make that determination.

If you are experiencing any common symptoms listed above, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home and take a rapid at-home test or visit a community testing location for a PCR test.

If you plan to see your primary care provider, please call your provider's office before arriving or scheduling an appointment to determine the appropriate care setting and testing process.

Call 911 if you have emergency signs such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.

If you get a positive result, it’s a pretty sure sign you’re infected, though false positives do happen. You may want to confirm it with another rapid test about 36 hours later or get a PCR test from a testing center or your primary care provider. Experts, however, recommend that you do not wait for the results of a second test to take precautions. You should:

• Inform your medical provider,
• Stay at home for five days and separate yourself from others as much as possible
• Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to the virus,
• Monitor your symptoms and
• Seek immediate medical care if you are experiencing emergency warning signs.

Speak with your primary care provider to see if you are eligible for treatment with Paxlovid. Paxlovid is an oral antiviral pill that can be taken at home to help keep high-risk individuals from becoming sick enough with COVID-19 that they need hospitalization. Successful treatment with Paxlovid needs to begin within five days of your first COVID-19 symptoms.

Vaccines currently prevent millions of deaths from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, and influenza every year. Vaccines work by training and preparing the body's natural defenses—the immune system—to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target. If the body is exposed to those disease-causing germs later, the body is immediately ready to destroy them, preventing illness. Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but all of them use the virus (or parts or material from it) to provoke an immune response. Once the body's immune system has "previewed" the virus from the vaccine, it can recognize and respond if it reencounters the virus.

• The Pfizer vaccine received full authorization for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people 16 years old and older on August 23, 2021. It is available under emergency use authorization for people ages 5-15. The vaccine uses the same mRNA approach as the Moderna vaccine. When first administered, it requires two doses; a third dose may be required for severely immunocompromised individuals.
• The Moderna vaccine was fully authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people 18 years old and older on January 31, 2022. The vaccine uses the same mRNA approach as the Pfizer vaccine. When first administered, it requires two doses; a third dose may be required for severely immunocompromised individuals.
• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on February 27, 2021, for people 18 years old and older. The vaccine is a viral vector vaccine requiring only one shot.
• The Novavax vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the FDA on July 19, 2022, for people 12 years and older. The vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine. When first administered, it requires two doses.

PeaceHealth is currently offering vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna, depending on clinic location.

PeaceHealth is currently offering immunization and booster shots for patients at our primary care clinics. Appointments are required. To schedule, please call your primary care provider or request an appointment through our patient portal, My PeaceHealth.

Messenger RNA vaccines—also called mRNA vaccines—are some of the first COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States, including the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies to trigger an immune response, not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, protects us from getting infected if the actual virus enters our bodies.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain a tiny piece of genetic material (mRNA) encased in salt, sugar and fats. Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which store the instructions in single-stranded RNA, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses double-stranded DNA. None of these vaccines contain a nano- or microchip or any other sort of tracking device. You can find the list of ingredients on the FDA fact sheets for the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna vaccine, Novavax, and Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

You may have some side effects from the vaccine. Side effects indicate that your body is building protection against the virus. Most people either have no side effects or common side effects such as:

• swelling or redness at the injection site
• headache
• muscle pain
• tiredness

Severe allergic reactions, after COVID-19 vaccination are rare but can happen. A 30-minute observation period is required for those at risk for a severe reaction. After leaving a vaccination provider site, if you think you or your child might be having a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care by calling 911.

If you have concerns about possible side effects you may be experiencing, reach out to your provider. PeaceHealth is safe, open and ready to care for you.

Learn more about side effects and when to call your doctor.

As long as the virus continues to spread, mutations are expected, and COVID-19 vaccines may also need to be revised to allow for growing diversity in the virus. The currently available COVID-19 vaccines protect against multiple strains of the virus, including the delta variant. Scientists believe that the vaccine provides some measure of protection against the omicron variant. However, the variant is still too new to know how long the protection lasts.

Patients should not have any out-of-pocket expenses for the COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government pays for the cost of the vaccine itself regardless of immigration and insurance status. If you have public or private insurance, PeaceHealth will bill them for the cost of administering the vaccine. If you do not have insurance, the federal government offers healthcare providers a program covering vaccine administration costs.

Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19, people who previously had COVID-19 should still get the vaccine to help protect against getting COVID-19 again or passing it onto someone else. Check with your doctor about how long you should wait after recovery before getting a COVID-19 vaccination. The protection someone gains from having an infection (called natural immunity) varies depending on the disease and from person to person. Since this virus is new, we don't know how long natural immunity might last, and more studies are needed.

There have been a small number of severe allergic reactions in early Pfizer vaccinations in the U.K. and the U.S. These cases are being reviewed. If you have a history of allergies that are severe enough to require you to carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), you may wish to talk to your primary care provider before taking the vaccine.

The FDA recommends that you not get the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines if you either had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of one of these vaccines or had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in one of these vaccines. You can find the list of ingredients on the FDA fact sheets for the Pfizer vaccine and Moderna vaccine.

Reports of adverse events following the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine suggest an increased risk of a rare adverse event called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). Based on available data, the CDC has stated that this vaccine's known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks. However, women younger than 50 should be aware of the rare but increased risk of this adverse event and that there are other COVID-19 vaccine options available for which this risk has not been seen. If you are in this category, you may wish to talk to your primary care provider before taking the vaccine. You can find the list of ingredients on the FDA fact sheets for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine here.

The CDC strongly recommends that pregnant people, recently pregnant people (including those who are lactating), people who are trying to become pregnant now, or people who might become pregnant in the future get vaccinated against COVID-19. Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. The data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy for both pregnant persons and their fetus/infant.

Although the overall risk of severe illness is low, pregnant and recently pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 when compared with non-pregnant people. Severe illness includes conditions that require hospitalization, intensive care, need for a ventilator or special equipment to breathe, or illness that results in death. Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk of pre-term birth and might be at increased risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with pregnant women without COVID-19. The best way to protect against COVID-19 is vaccination.

CDC recommendations align with the recommendations from professional medical organizations serving pregnant people, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

For more information, visit the CDC's vaccine pregnancy site.

Based on how these vaccines work in the body, COVID-19 vaccines are thought not to be a risk to lactating people or their breastfeeding babies. Recent reports have shown that breastfeeding people who have received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies. More data are needed to determine what protection these antibodies may provide to the baby.

There is no evidence that the authorized COVID-19 vaccines impact fertility. However, some research studies suggest that getting COVID-19—the virus, not the vaccine—can affect sperm quality, potentially contributing to certain people's infertility concerns. Therefore, the virus may pose a greater risk to fertility than the vaccine. If you have concerns or questions about any vaccine side effects, consult your primary care provider.

Yes. The Vatican has found the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines morally acceptable. Additionally, in collaboration with other Catholic bioethicists, the Catholic Health Association and their ethicists encourage Catholic health organizations to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines. They have found nothing morally prohibitive with their development and use.

According to the CDC, serious adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination are rare but may occur. Reports of adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) do not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused a health problem. Vaccine experts make that determination upon reviewing reported events. CDC's summary of known adverse events from COVID-19 vaccines administered in the U.S. shows that serious adverse events are exceptionally rare and supports the statement that the vaccines are safe and effective.

We strongly encourage vaccination for any patient or visitor for whom it is medically advisable. Vaccines are the best way to protect oneself and others in the community. Patients cannot be required to be vaccinated. As public health circumstances warrant, requirements for visitors—for example, masking, vaccination, or eliminating visitation entirely—are or may be necessary.

If you lost your card, you have several options for replacing it. If you received your vaccination at a PeaceHealth facility, you can find your vaccination record in your My PeaceHealth account. If you received it from another organization, contact them and ask for a new one.

You can also contact your state health department's immunization information system (IIS). Vaccine providers are required to report COVID-19 vaccination to their state's IIS.

Once you have your vaccine record, you may want to consider other ways to protect and carry it.

The number of shots, waiting period between shots and dosage amount depend on the vaccine brand and the child's age at the time of vaccination. Vaccine dosing is not based on weight like many medications. Children receive a smaller, age-appropriate dose that is the right size for them. The smaller doses were rigorously tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group.

The Pfizer and Moderna and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as those given to adults. However, children receive a smaller, age-appropriate dose that is the right size for them. The smaller doses were rigorously tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group. Your child should get the vaccine made for their age group.

Yes. In Oregon, children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when getting their vaccine. Under Oregon law, those at least 15 do not need a parent/guardian to allow medical care and may come to the appointment alone. In Washington, those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when getting the vaccine. In Alaska, those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when getting their vaccine.

The CDC says you can receive other vaccines and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. If you have concerns about your child getting multiple vaccines simultaneously, talk with your healthcare provider.

Tens of millions of the larger doses have been given safely to Americans 12 and older. One rare side effect has come to light: heart inflammation. Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported following vaccination with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. These rare reactions have occurred primarily in young men or teen boys, usually after the second dose, and they tend to recover quickly. To put the risk in context, doctors say COVID-19 infection can cause more serious heart inflammation. One theory is that testosterone and puberty play a role, which is partly why experts expect any risk to younger kids would be even lower. No cases were reported during the clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5-11. Experts believe the protection offered to children between the ages of 5 and 11 by the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine "clearly outweigh" the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the COVID-19 vaccine will not cause infertility or disturb puberty. There is no evidence among clinical trial participants or the millions who have received the vaccines since authorization that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility or affect puberty.

No. The dosage amount is not based on a child's size alone. Scientists considered the typical age-related weights, how the medicine distributes through the body, and how children's immune systems differ from adults when determining the dosage for 5 to 11-year-olds. Medical experts suggest waiting until the child turns of age to receive the appropriate dosage for that age range. While you may have an adult-size 10-year-old, that doesn't necessarily mean the immune system is adult-size.

CDC said children should get the dose that is right for their age on the day of vaccination. So, if a child gets the 10-microgram dose for the first shot and then turns 12, the second shot should be the 30-microgram dose.

Pediatricians say not to postpone vaccination because the kid-size dose is still effective.

The vaccine should not be given to a child with a history of severe allergic reaction to any of its components. If this is the case, your child might be able to get another COVID-19 vaccine in the future. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your child's primary care provider to make an informed decision that’s right for you and your family.

Due to the public health emergency, the FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer vaccine in children aged 5-11 (an EUA for children 12-15 was granted in May 2021) while the manufacturer completes testing. The CDC stated that the vaccine's known and potential benefits outweigh their known and potential risks. Full FDA approval is expected at a later date. Meanwhile, the FDA requires manufacturers to continue monitoring safety and report any new issues.

CDC recommends one updated (bivalent) booster dose:

• Everyone aged 5 years and older, if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose.
• Children aged 6 months – 4 years who completed the two-shot Moderna primary series are eligible if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose. There is no booster recommendation for children aged 6 months – 4 years who got the Pfizer vaccine primary series, as the third dose is now an updated (bivalent) booster.

Please speak with your primary care physician if you have questions about the booster or are unsure if you meet the booster criteria.

Viruses change and evolve, and it's completely normal and expected. Since COVID-19 first appeared, there have been at least six significant variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in circulation (alpha, beta, delta, omicron and, most recently, the subvariants of omicron BA.4 and BA.5). As a new variant becomes dominant, the previous variant dies out.

When the vaccines were first produced, they were designed for the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. They provided a strong defense against the alpha, beta and delta variants. The original vaccines are monovalent, designed to only protect against one virus strain.

When the omicron variant emerged in late 2021, it became clear that the monovalent vaccine, while still effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalization, was not as effective against the omicron variant. Pfizer and Moderna began developing a bivalent vaccine containing components of the original strain and the omicron variant. The updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters are designed to give you broad protection against COVID-19, including better protection against the omicron variant.

Boosters are critical because they restimulate the immune system and increase the number of antibodies. Boosters also develop antibodies against more parts of the virus than the primary COVID-19 vaccine series. The more antibodies we have, the more we are protected against omicron and other future variants of concern.

Getting boosted will reduce breakthrough cases. While breakthrough cases are possible, vaccinated and boosted patients do not present severe symptoms and generally do not require hospitalization.

No. Eligible individuals over the age of 6 years may receive a booster different from their primary vaccination dose. Children aged 5 years can only get a Pfizer-BioNTech booster. PeaceHealth offers the Pfizer vaccine and booster, and some locations carry the Moderna vaccine and booster.

PeaceHealth does not provide the Johnson & Johnson or Novavax vaccine or booster (visit vaccine.gov to find a nearby location if you are interested in those vaccines). Talk with your primary care physician if you have questions about which booster to get.

The side effects after getting a booster shot are similar to side effects after the two-shot series. After a booster shot, the most common side effects are fatigue and pain at the injection site. Like the two-shot primary series, serious side effects are rare but may occur.

Patients should not have any out-of-pocket expenses for the COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government pays for the cost of the vaccine itself regardless of immigration and insurance status. If you have public or private insurance, PeaceHealth will bill them for the cost of administering the vaccine. If you do not have insurance, the federal government offers healthcare providers a program covering vaccine administration costs.

Yes, the CDC says you can receive the flu vaccine and a COVID vaccine or booster simultaneously. If you have concerns about getting both vaccines at the same time, talk with your healthcare provider.

Additional dose: When someone with a weakened immune system gets an additional dose of vaccine, it is not a booster. It is part of the first series of shots needed to be fully vaccinated. Many people with impaired immunity did not have a full response to their first doses.

Booster shot: A booster is when someone has a full response to vaccination, but effectiveness wanes over time. The booster re-energizes their immune response.

The FDA has authorized additional doses for some people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. The extra doses or booster shots depend on the age of the recipient and the brand received.

PeaceHealth uses a variety of treatments and therapeutics for COVID-19 patients. Treatments may include fully authorized or emergency use authorization (EUA) antiviral drugs and immune modulators. Physicians determine the best course of treatment based on a patient's severity and risk factors and may or may not use the treatments mentioned here. More information about these treatments is available from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

PeaceHealth primary care providers are currently prescribing Paxlovid through our clinics (this may change at any time as our knowledge of COVID-19 and treatments is evolving). Specific eligibility requirements must be met for a patient to receive a Paxlovid prescription. For more information on Paxlovid, please read our Healthy You article, Paxlovid: What you need to know. Other treatments may be available for those who cannot take Paxlovid or do not meet the eligibility requirements. In all cases, we recommend you speak with your primary care physician to determine a treatment plan appropriate for your needs.  

PeaceHealth follows the most current guidance for treating patients with COVID-19, including reviewing available recommendations from the National Institutes of Health. PeaceHealth does not offer treatment options that are not supported by robust clinical evidence, including ivermectin.

A large study found that ivermectin showed no sign of alleviating the disease and provided no benefit in other health measures like viral clearance after a week, speed of recovery or risk of death. The researchers ruled the drug out as an effective COVID-19 treatment.

Ivermectin is approved for use in people and some animals to treat some parasites. Humans should never take medications meant for animals. Taking ivermectin in any unapproved way could cause serious harm.

Learn more: Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19.