Presbyterian | Your Story | Centennial Care | Winter 2021

Skipped your 2nd shot? It’s not too late The COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection for fighting the virus. But if you only got the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you might be missing out on all the benefits. To gain the best protection from those vaccines, you need two shots. Life gets busy, though, and sometimes taking time away from work or home is hard. An illness might have changed your plans, or concerns about side effects may have kept you from getting your second shot. Whatever your reason, there’s good news: It’s not too late to go back for your second shot now. Better late than never The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting your second shot three weeks after the first for Pfizer or four weeks after the first for Moderna. The CDC also says it’s OK to get the second shot up to six weeks later. Even if you are outside the six-week window, it’s worth considering going for that second shot. Here’s why: ● The second shot may give your immunity a boost. CDC reported in March that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were about 80 percent effective at preventing infection after one shot, but 90 percent effective after two. ● It may help you fight off variants. With new, more contagious variants like Delta on the rise, every bit of extra protection helps. ● The side effects of a shot are mostly mild and short-lived. Not everyone gets side effects. But those who do usually feel better in a day or two. Getting COVID-19, on the other hand, can be a lot more dangerous. Ready, set, go! At your first vaccination appointment, your provider should give you a vaccination card. It says which vaccine you got and when you got it. If you lost your card or didn’t get one, you can contact the provider who administered the vaccine to replace it. You can schedule your second shot at the same place you got your first shot or go to another location. Don’t forget to bring your card. Your provider will update it to show that you got both doses. You’ll be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second shot. Presbyterian Health Plan, Inc. P.O. Box 27489 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7489 www.phs.org Important plan information CC Standard U.S. Postage PAID Presbyterian Health Plan INSIDE Keep mental health in mind 6 Safe winter workouts 9 Your story Winter 2021 En español: Si usted desea obtener este boletín en español, llame al (505) 923-5200 o al 1-888-977-2333.