Vaccination Q&A Update
Thanks to your questions, concerns, and passion for health and wellness, we have collected a list of the top vaccine-related questions we hear at Clinic Sofia. Read on for this informative Q&A with Dr. Jewelia Wagner. Also, be sure to check out this recent article, “Getting pregnant women to say ‘yes’ with the COVID-19 vaccine” from the Star Tribune in which a Clinic Sofia patient discusses her initial hesitation to get vaccinated while pregnant but ultimately put her trust in Dr. Wagner to make her decision.
Q. Should I get the Covid-19 vaccine booster if I am pregnant?
A. Yes, leading medical organizations recommend that pregnant people, including healthcare workers, receive a booster shot at least six months after their Pfizer primary series. As with the initial doses, the booster can be given at any stage during pregnancy or postpartum.
Q. Does it matter which booster shot I get while pregnant?
A. According to the latest guidance from the CDC, eligible individuals (which includes pregnant women) may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Boosters are recommended six months after your last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination and two months after Johnson & Johnson.
Q. Is it possible that the Covid-19 vaccine will lead to miscarriage or infertility?
A. Vaccines do not cause infertility or miscarriages in pregnant women nor do they affect male fertility or sperm counts.
Q. Should I avoid the Covid-19 vaccine while breastfeeding?
A. No, the vaccine is safe for those who are breastfeeding. Even better, those who have received a mRNA vaccine and are breastfeeding can pass along antibodies to their babies via breast milk.
Q. I know vaccinated people who have gotten breakthrough cases. Does this mean the vaccine isn’t working?
A. On the contrary, the decrease is deaths, particularly in nursing homes, show how well they are working. The vast majority of those hospitalized with Covid-19 or on ventilators are unvaccinated. Finally, if you are vaccinated, you are far less likely to experience severe symptoms or require hospitalization, which also shows how well the vaccines are working.
Q. I know that there wasn’t much of a flu epidemic last year. Do I really need to get a flu shot this year?
A. Yes, like the Covid-19 vaccine, the flu vaccine decreases your risk of getting sick with the flu and the likelihood of severe symptoms if you should get sick. We are concerned about RSV cases over the summer and a stronger flu season based on greater activity than last year, which could lead to a “tridemic.” We recommend both the flu and Covid vaccines for all pregnant women.
Q. How long do I have to wait between my Covid-19 vaccine and flu shot?
A. You can get them on the same day!
