Getting your updated COVID-19 shot gives you the best chance to stay well

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (Sept. 16, 2024) — The virus that causes COVID-19 is still prevalent in the community, and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) are prepared with the updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to help protect you and your loved ones.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently approved updated COVID vaccines aimed at variants that have been circulating more recently in the U.S. and worldwide. “According to recent data from the CDC, COVID was the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2023, down from fourth in 2022,” says Timothy Friel, MD, Chair, Department of Medicine, LVHN. “Though the toll of COVID has decreased from the peaks of the pandemic, this infection remains an important threat to members of our community, especially older Americans and those with underlying medical conditions.”

Alex Benjamin, MD, Chief Infection Control and Prevention Officer, LVHN, says one of our most effective tools against serious illness and death from COVID is vaccination. “Following an unexpected wave of cases in the U.S. throughout the summer, we are pleased to be able to make the updated COVID-19 vaccines available to the communities we serve. The approval of these vaccines could not come at a better time. Vaccination remains one of our most important sources of protection from severe disease and hospitalization,” Dr. Benjamin says.

How to schedule through LVHN

To receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, call your LVPG primary care clinician’s office directly to schedule a vaccine appointment. If you don’t have an LVPG primary care clinician, call 888-402-LVHN (5846) or visit LVHN.org/find-a-doctor to find a doctor near you and establish care.

If you have a well visit with your LVPG primary care clinician, you also can have your COVID-19 vaccination given at that time.

For children under 12 years

Children 6 months to 11 years can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at their primary care clinician’s office. Call your child’s primary care office to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

Walk-in option

For walk-in convenience, people 12 and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at any of our LVHN ExpressCARE locations, no appointment needed. Children younger than 12 must receive their COVID-19 vaccine at a primary care clinician’s office and cannot receive the vaccine at ExpressCARE.

Frequently asked questions

What if I’ve had COVID illness or received a COVID vaccine recently?

You must wait 60 days from your last COVID vaccine to receive the updated shot. It’s also recommended to wait 90 days from your last COVID infection before getting the updated shot.

If I had multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS), can I still get vaccinated against COVID-19?

The CDC recommends that you wait 90 days after you were diagnosed with MIS before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Do I need to stay with the same vaccine brand as prior COVID shots?

You do not need to receive a COVID vaccine of the same brand.

Can I also receive other vaccines at the same time as the COVID-19 shot?

Yes, you can receive your annual flu shot or other vaccinations at the same time as the COVID-19 shot.

Where else can I get a COVID-19 vaccination?

Retail pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies also offer the updated COVID-19 vaccines. Visit vaccines.gov to find a retail pharmacy near you that offers COVID-19 vaccines.

Is there a cost for a COVID-19 vaccination?

According to the CDC, most people can receive no-cost COVID-19 vaccinations through their private health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid plans. Check with your insurance carrier for more information about your health care coverage. –

About Jefferson 
Lehigh Valley Health Network is now proudly part of Jefferson Health. Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow’s professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.

 

Information provided to TVL  by:
Michael Peckman