COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
Are you a BlueCare Tennessee provider? Click here for information about COVID-19 vaccines.
All other providers can find more information about COVID-19 vaccines here.
We’ve compiled answers to your most-asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines. This is a developing situation, so check back for updated information.
About COVID-19 Vaccinations
Children ages 5 to 11 can receive a single dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccination if they are unvaccinated or have previously been vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023. Learn more here.
Children ages 6 months to 4 years can receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine or three doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Those who have been previously vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023, can get one or two doses of the vaccine, depending on the vaccine brand and number of doses. Learn more here.
Individuals age 12 or older who are unvaccinated or have previously been vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023, can receive a single dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
As of October 2023, individuals age 12 or older who have not been previously vaccinated are also eligible for the updated Novavax vaccine and should receive two doses. Those who were previously vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023, are eligible to receive one dose, as long as they haven’t already received the new Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine.
As of March 2024, the CDC recommends that those who are age 65 or older receive an additional dose of the updated vaccine at least four months after their previous vaccination and those who are immunocompromised receive an additional dose two months after their last. Read more here.
The FDA recommends a single updated Pfizer or Moderna dose for everyone age 5 or older who is unvaccinated or has previously been vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023. Children ages 6 months to 4 years should receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine or three doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Individuals age 12 or older are also eligible for the updated Novavax vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023, are eligible to receive one dose, as long as they haven’t already received the new Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine. Unvaccinated individuals can receive two doses.
As of March 2024, the CDC recommends that those who are age 65 or older receive an additional dose of the updated vaccine at least four months after their previous vaccination and those who are immunocompromised receive an additional dose two months after their last. Read more here.
Please talk with your doctor to determine which vaccine you should receive. You can find more details through the CDC guidance here.
Tools like vaccines.gov will usually show which vaccine a provider is giving. The CDC recommends you get whichever vaccine is available. Keep in mind that:
- Everyone age 5 or older, regardless of vaccination status, can receive a single dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Those who are previously vaccinated should wait two months after their most recent dose to get the new shot.
- Children ages 6 months to 4 years can receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine or three doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
- Individuals age 12 or older are also eligible for the updated Novavax vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated are eligible to receive one dose, as long as they haven’t already received the new Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine. Unvaccinated individuals can receive two doses.
- Those who are immunocompromised may qualify for an additional vaccine dose. Read more here.
The FDA now recommends a single Pfizer or Moderna bivalent dose for unvaccinated adults. Unvaccinated children ages 6 months to 4 years should receive two doses of the Moderna bivalent vaccine or three doses of the Pfizer bivalent vaccine.
The FDA also recommends a second bivalent booster dose, at least four months after their initial bivalent booster, for those who are immunocompromised and adults ages 65-plus.
Adults over 18 and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 who cannot receive mRNA bivalent doses are also eligible for the Novavax vaccine as an alternative.
You can find more information here.
The FDA recommends a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent dose as the primary COVID-19 vaccination.
- Unvaccinated adults can receive a single dose of the vaccine.
- Children between ages 6 months and 5 years can receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine and three doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
- Those who are immunocompromised and adults ages 65-plus are authorized for a second bivalent booster dose at least four months after their initial bivalent booster.
Adults over 18 and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 who cannot receive mRNA bivalent doses are also eligible for the Novavax vaccine as an alternative.
You can find more details through the CDC guidance here.
As of March 2024, the CDC recommends that those who are age 65 or older receive an additional dose of the updated vaccine at least four months after their previous vaccination and those who are immunocompromised receive an additional dose two months after their last. Read more here.
Children ages 6 months to 4 years can get one or two doses of the vaccine depending on which vaccine and the number of doses they have already received if they have been previously vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023. Children ages 5 to 11 can receive a single dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine if they have previously been vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023. Individuals age 12 or older who have previously been vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023, can receive a single dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
Individuals age 12 or older are also eligible for the updated Novavax vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023, are eligible to receive one dose, as long as they haven’t already received the new Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine. Unvaccinated individuals can receive two doses.
Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time, if you are eligible and the timing coincides. The CDC advises that people follow the recommended schedule for each vaccine. So, get your currently recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can, provided it has been at least two months since your most recent dose, and receive a flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible.
According to a recent CDC study, people who received a flu vaccine and an mRNA booster vaccine at the same time were slightly more likely to experience reactions like fatigue, headache and muscle ache; but reactions were mild and shown to resolve quickly. We urge you to speak with your primary care provider if you have any concerns or questions about receiving both vaccines at the same time.
Moms and Children
Adults and children have been included in the vaccine clinical trials, meeting safety and effectiveness standards. As of September 2023, children ages 5 to 11 years who are unvaccinated or have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine before Sept. 12, 2023, should get one updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. Unvaccinated individuals over 12 are also eligible for two doses of the updated Novavax vaccine.
Children ages 6 months to 4 years who were vaccinated before Sept. 12, 2023, should get one or two doses of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, depending on which vaccine and the number of doses they’ve previously received.
As of March 2024, the CDC recommends that those who are age 65 or older receive an additional dose at least four months after their previous vaccination and those who are immunocompromised receive an additional dose two months after their last. Read more here.
The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or currently trying to get pregnant, as well as people who might become pregnant in the future. People who contract the COVID-19 virus during pregnancy are at higher risk for pregnancy complications, including stillborn or preterm delivery (any infant born earlier than 37 weeks of pregnancy).
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy helps:
- Prevent severe illness and death in people who are pregnant
- Protect infants younger than 6 months old from hospitalization caused by COVID-19
Experts are still reviewing this subject. But a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that antibodies made after a pregnant person got an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine could be found in the umbilical cord blood. This means that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy might help protect babies against COVID-19.
It’s also important to protect yourself while pregnant by getting vaccinated. According to the CDC, people who are pregnant or recently pregnant are more likely to become severely ill from COVID-19 compared to others. Getting a vaccine can help protect you from severe illness.
Vaccine Testing and Side Effects
Some people have had side effects from the vaccines. These are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects are pain, redness and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea. These side effects could affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Provider Questions
Some providers may charge for an office visit to give a vaccine or booster, but the vaccine itself won’t cost you anything. If what they’re charging you doesn’t seem right, call the Member Service telephone number on the back of your Member ID card so we can help.
BlueCross will cover FDA-approved or emergency-authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Your plan will cover the vaccine at 100% if you get it from an in-network provider. If you get a vaccine from an out-of-network provider, then your out-of-network benefits will apply. If you’re enrolled in a grandfathered plan, you may have a cost share for in-network preventive services.
COVID-19 and Fraud
Unfortunately, some people are using the threat of coronavirus to defraud others, especially our senior population.
Your Health
Yes, you should get vaccinated even if you already had COVID-19. Health experts are still studying how long you’ll be protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19.
If you were treated for COVID-19 with antibodies or plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
A person is considered fully vaccinated after receiving the updated COVID-19 dose from Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax. This means that:
- Everyone age 5 or older can receive a single dose of the updated vaccine.
- Children between ages 6 months and 4 years should receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine or three doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
- Individuals age 12 or older are also eligible for the updated Novavax vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated are eligible to receive one dose, as long as they haven’t already received the new Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine. Unvaccinated individuals can receive two doses.
- Those who are immunocompromised may qualify for an additional vaccine dose. Read more here.
You can find more information here.
Most vaccines take several weeks to build an immune response in your body, and the COVID-19 vaccines are no different.
Until you’re fully vaccinated, you should still practice social distancing, mask wearing and frequent handwashing. Once you’re fully vaccinated, you can resume some activities; but the CDC still recommends wearing a mask in many situations, depending on the level of risk in your area. Stay up to date on the latest mask guidelines here.
Just remember, some businesses, workplaces and travel still require mask wearing regardless of vaccine status.
Preguntas frecuentes para miembros, sobre la vacuna contra el COVID-19
La vacuna no le costará nada de su bolsillo. El gobierno federal está pagando por la vacuna en sí, y nosotros estamos cubriendo los costos para administrar la vacuna para nuestros miembros. Algunos proveedores médicos pueden cobrar por la consulta para administrar la vacuna, lo que utilizaría sus beneficios habituales de consultas en el consultorio. Pero la vacuna en sí no le costará nada. Nosotros también cubriremos el costo para administrar la vacuna de refuerzo contra el COVID-19 para los miembros comerciales de la Red Blue S, P y L y los miembros de Medicare Advantage, BlueCare Tennessee y BlueCare Plus que sean elegibles para una vacuna de refuerzo. Esto incluye a las personas mayores de 65 años, o a los adultos de 18 a 64 años de edad que están de moderada a severamente inmunocomprometidos o cuyo empleo los pone en alto riesgo de contraer COVID-19 debido a la exposición continua.
Si usted es un miembro de BlueCross y se le ha cobrado por su consulta de vacunación, por favor llame al número de Servicio al Miembro que aparece en el reverso de su tarjeta de identificación de miembro para obtener ayuda.
los CDC y la FDA informaron que cualquiera de las tres vacunas autorizadas podría usarse como refuerzo de “combinación y mezcla” para quienes necesitan protección adicional.
Actualmente, las recomendaciones de refuerzo se aplican a todos los adultos de 18 años o más. El refuerzo de Pfizer está autorizado para los mayores de 5 años. Si tiene al menos 5 años y ha pasado suficiente tiempo desde que recibió la primera vacuna, puede recibir un refuerzo.
- Pfizer y Moderna: al menos 5 meses después de la segunda dosis de la serie inicial
- Johnson & Johnson / Janssen: 2 meses o más después de la vacunación inicial
la FDA autorizó una segunda dosis de refuerzo de las vacunas contra el COVID-19 de Pfizer-BioNTech y Moderna para los adultos mayores de 50 años y ciertas personas con inmunodeficiencias. Las personas podrán recibirla al menos cuatro meses después de la primera dosis de refuerzo. Puede encontrar más detalles en la guía de los CDC aquí.
Las personas inmunocomprometidas con afecciones moderadas a graves pueden ser elegibles para recibir una tercera dosis de las vacunas Pfizer o Moderna.
Si está inmunocomprometido y desea recibir una tercera dosis de Pfizer o Moderna, hable con su médico para analizar si cumple con las recomendaciones de los CDC y tenga en cuenta lo siguiente:
- Deben haber pasado al menos 28 días desde su vacuna anterior.
- Se recomienda una tercera dosis de la misma marca de ARNm que se recibió inicialmente, pero si la marca de ARNm que se recibió inicialmente no está disponible, se puede tomar cualquiera de las marcas de ARNm para una dosis adicional.
- Nadie debe recibir más de tres dosis de vacuna de ARNm.
Los niños de 6 meses a 17 años pueden recibir las vacunas contra el COVID-19 de Moderna y Pfizer. Los niños de 5 años o más también pueden recibir la vacuna de refuerzo de Pfizer al menos cinco meses después de la segunda vacuna.
El Colegio Americano de Obstetras y Ginecólogos publicó el 13 de diciembre de 2020 que se debe ofrecer la vacuna a las mujeres embarazadas y lactantes.
Si está embarazada, hable con su proveedor médico para determinar si es adecuado para usted. A medida que se amplíen los ensayos clínicos, los expertos en salud podrán ofrecer más información.
La vacuna de cada fabricante requiere programas de vacunación ligeramente diferentes. El proveedor que le administrará la inyección le informará cuándo debe recibir la segunda dosis. El CDC ha creado una tarjeta de vacuna para que pueda anotar cuándo la recibió y cuándo la necesitará nuevamente. Es importante seguir el horario de las dosis para obtener la máxima protección.
Los expertos en salud recomiendan que las personas elegibles reciban las inyecciones de refuerzo de Pfizer y Moderna a partir de los seis meses posteriores a la segunda dosis. Los niños de 5 años de edad o más pueden recibir el refuerzo de Pfizer al menos cinco meses después de su segunda dosis. Los adultos mayores de 18 años que recibieron la vacuna Johnson & Johnson pueden recibir un refuerzo al menos dos meses después de la dosis inicial. La FDA también ha emitido una autorización de emergencia para un enfoque de “combinación y mezcla” para los refuerzos, lo que significa que los adultos elegibles que estén completamente vacunados pueden recibir un refuerzo de una vacuna diferente. Puede encontrar más información aquí.
la FDA autorizó una segunda dosis de refuerzo de las vacunas contra el COVID-19 de Pfizer-BioNTech y Moderna para los adultos mayores de 50 años y ciertas personas con inmunodeficiencias. Las personas podrán recibirla al menos cuatro meses después de la primera dosis de refuerzo. Puede encontrar más detalles en la guía de los CDC aquí.
Se considera que una persona está totalmente vacunada dos semanas después de recibir una segunda dosis de la vacuna Pfizer o Moderna, o dos semanas después de recibir la vacuna Johnson & Johnson de una sola dosis.
Sin embargo, para obtener la máxima protección, los expertos en salud recomiendan que las personas que cumplen los requisitos reciban las vacunas de refuerzo de Pfizer y Moderna a partir de los seis meses posteriores a la segunda dosis. Esto incluye a todas las personas de 18 años o más para Moderna y de 5 años o más para Pfizer. Los adultos mayores de 18 años que recibieron la vacuna de Johnson & Johnson pueden recibir un refuerzo al menos dos meses después de la dosis inicial. La FDA también ha emitido una autorización de emergencia para un enfoque de “mezcla y combinación” de refuerzos, lo que significa que los adultos elegibles que están completamente vacunados pueden obtener un refuerzo de una vacuna diferente. Puede encontrar más información aquí.