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COVID-19 Vaccines

Now Administering First, Second and Bivalent Booster Doses

Children 6 months to 15 of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
Available to eligible individuals age 6 months or older.

Moderna Vaccine
Available to those 6 months to 5 years of age and those age 18 or older.

Novavax Vaccine
Available to those age 12 and older who have not received any other COVID-19 vaccine.

Bivalent Booster
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, bivalent booster is authorized for use in people ages 6 months and older. It is administered at least 2 months after either completion of primary vaccination with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, bivalent is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 6 months of age and older. It is administered at least 2 months after completion of primary vaccination with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.


First and Second Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available to individuals age 6 months and older.

The dosage for the 6 months to 4 years age group is one-tenth of the adult dose. The dosage for the 5 to 11 age group is one-third of the adult dose. The dosage for 12 to 18 age group is the same as the adult dosage.

A second vaccine dose should be administered 21 days later for those ages 5 to 18. They will be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of vaccine. For people 6 months through 4 years, the bivalent vaccine is recommended for the 3rd dose in the primary series at least 8 weeks later.


The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is available to individuals age 6 months to 5 years and those age 18 and older.

A second vaccine dose should be administered 28 days later.


The Novavax vaccine is available to individuals age 12 and older.

Novavax is protein-based, which is a traditional type of vaccine that has been widely used for decades. It is a different type of vaccine than the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, which use mRNA technology. It is available to those who have not received a previous COVID-19 vaccine.

A second dose should be administered three to eight weeks later.



Mix-and-Match Booster Guidance:
Individuals who are eligible for a booster dose may select which vaccine they receive. The eligible populations and dosing intervals for the heterologous (“mix and match”) booster dose are the same as those authorized for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination. The booster dose (0.25mL) of the Moderna vaccine should be used whenever it is given as a booster. A different vaccine may not be used as part of the primary series.


Verification of Eligibility:
To expedite the registration process, individuals are asked to bring their COVID-19 vaccination card showing their first two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.


Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine for Immunocompromised Individuals

Lexington Medical Center also provides third doses of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for individuals who are immunocompromised and eligible, according to the SCDHEC guidelines below:

Eligibility for a third dose includes people with certain medical conditions or people receiving treatments associated with moderate to severe immune compromise:

  • Active or recent treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies.
  • Other hematologic disorder which can cause an immunocompromised state.
  • Receipt of solid-organ or recent hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge, Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes).
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection.
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.


Verification of Eligibility:
Individuals must self-attest their eligibility based on the criteria above by completing a form at our vaccine clinic or available for download here. Individuals must also bring proof of their initial two doses of vaccine, i.e. their vaccination card or other vaccination record.


Dosage:
The third dose is the same dosage as the first two dosages for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Individuals should receive their third dose from the same manufacturer as their primary vaccine series (first and second doses).


Age Criteria:
Immunocompromised individuals age 6 months and older are now approved to receive a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Immunocompromised individuals age 6 months to 5 years and age 18 and older may receive a third dose of the Moderna vaccine.


Timing:
The third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should be administered at least 28 days following the second dose and should be the same mRNA vaccine as the primary series. Whenever possible, mRNA COVID-19 vaccination doses (including the primary series and an additional dose) should be given at least two weeks before initiation of immunosuppressive therapies.


Bivalent Booster

Eligibility
Everyone ages 5 years and older is recommended to receive 1 age-appropriate bivalent mRNA booster dose at least 2 months after completion of any FDA-approved or FDA-authorized monovalent primary series or last monovalent booster dose. People cannot get a bivalent booster without first completing at least a primary series.

Timing
Authorized as single booster dose administered at least 2 months after either completion of primary vaccination with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

Accessing Your COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing Verification

Download MyChart Access Instructions


Immunocompromised Individuals Must Attest Their Eligibility for a Third Dose

Download the Self-Attestation Form
[En Español] Formulario de atestación

Questions About Getting the Vaccine?

Consult your health care provider about any medical concerns before scheduling an appointment. Our staff will not be able to give medical advice at the time of vaccination.

I've had COVID, do I still need a vaccine?



Pregnancy, Fertility, and the COVID-19 Vaccine



Getting Vaccinated

COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications. There’s no way to know how it will affect you. And, if you get sick, you can spread the disease to family, friends and others around you.

The COVID-19 vaccine works with your immune system so that you’re ready to fight the virus if exposed. The vaccine is an important tool in helping to stop this global pandemic.

No, if you have severe/anaphylactic allergic reactions to the components of the vaccine or to other injectables, you should not get the vaccine.

But most experts agree that allergies to peanuts, eggs, shellfish, etc. are not a contraindiction.

Yes. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant women who meet criteria for vaccination based on recommended priority groups. But they should talk with their doctor first.

It’s important to note that no pregnant women were in the clinical trials at the time of the first dose. Experts also say that pregnant women may have an increased risk of severe illness if they have COVID-19, and they are also at risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome, such as preterm birth.

Children ages 6 months to 18 years are eligible to receive the vaccine. A parent or guardian must be present for children age 6 months to 15 years to receive the vaccine.

Any vaccine or medication can cause side effects. These are typically minor, such as a sore arm or low-grade fever, and go away within a few days.

As with all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines were not approved until clinical trials took place that showed they were both safe and effective. Safety is the top priority of any vaccine. Early results from the first COVID-19 vaccines tested in people show they worked as intended with no serious side effects.

Keep in mind that these side effects indicate that your immune system is responding to the vaccine. These side effects are common with vaccinations.

Clinical trials showed that the vaccine was approximately 50% effective after one dose and 95% effective after two doses.

Yes! While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, such as covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing your hands often, and staying at least 6 feet away from others.

Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide before deciding to change recommendations on steps everyone should take to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision.

Also, while the vaccine may prevent you from getting sick, it is unknown whether you can still carry and transmit the virus

If you’re not in quarantine or exhibiting symptoms, you can get the vaccine. But you should speak with your primary health care provider about it first.

As long as you have completed your quarantine and are no longer exhibiting symptoms, you can have the second dose of the vaccine. But you should speak with your primary health care provider about it first.

It’s too early to know if COVID-19 vaccines will provide long-term protection. Additional research is needed to answer this question; however, it’s encouraging that available data suggests most people who recover from COVID-19 develop an immune response that provides at least some protection against reinfection – although we’re still learning about the strength of this protection and how long it lasts

The COVID-19 Vaccine

Lexington Medical Center is currently administering the Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines.

Here’s what’s in the Pfizer vaccine:

  • A nucleotide-modified messenger RNA encoding the viral spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 — This is what makes the vaccine work. It instructs cells in the body on how to make a protein that triggers an immune response.
  • Lipids (fatty substances)
  • Potassium chloride (potassium and chlorine)
  • Monobasic potassium phosphate
  • Sodium chloride (Salt)
  • Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate
  • Sucrose (Sugar)

You cannot become infected with COVID-19 from COVID-19 vaccines. These are inactivated vaccines, not live-virus vaccines.

Pharmaceutical companies have invested significant resources into developing a COVID-19 vaccine quickly because of the global effects of the pandemic. An emergency situation warranted an emergency response. That does not mean the companies bypassed safety protocols or performed inadequate testing.

The Pfizer vaccine has been studied in approximately 43,000 people—and is shown to be 95% effective in preventing the virus after a two-dose regimen. Studies followed participants in the clinical trials for the vaccine for two months after they received it.

In addition to the safety review by the Food and Drug Administration, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices convened a panel of vaccine safety experts to independently evaluate the safety data from the clinical trial.

Yes, vaccine development typically takes many years; however, scientists had already begun research for coronavirus vaccines during previous outbreaks caused by related coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). That earlier research provided a head start for rapid development of vaccines to protect against infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

No. While the COVID-19 survival rate may be high, it’s important to note that a 1% mortality rate is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu. In addition, the mortality rate can vary widely based on age, gender and underlying health conditions.

In contrast, clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines have shown only short-term mild or moderate vaccine reactions that resolve without complication or injury.

While some people who receive the vaccine may develop symptoms as their immune system responds, that’s common when receiving any vaccine, and these symptoms are not considered serious or life-threatening. And you cannot become infected with COVID-19 from COVID-19 vaccines. These are inactivated vaccines, not live-virus vaccines.

Moreover, it's important to recognize that getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not just about survival from COVID-19. It's about preventing spread of the virus to others and preventing infection that can lead to long-term negative health effects.

While no vaccine is 100% effective, getting vaccinated is far better than not getting vaccinated. The benefits outweigh the risks in healthy people.

No, none of the COVID-19 vaccines will alter DNA. The Pfizer Bio-NTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have messenger RNA, or mRNA. Messenger RNA vaccines work by instructing cells in the body on how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. Injecting messenger RNA into your body will not interact or do anything to the DNA of your cells. Human cells break down and get rid of the messenger RNA soon after they have finished using the instructions.

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a traditional, protein-based vaccine, which is a type of vaccine that has been widely used for decades. It does not use messenger RNA.

The impact of COVID-19 vaccines on the pandemic will depend on several factors such as effectiveness, manufacturing, delivery and how many people get vaccinated. It is generally accepted that for the vaccine to offer protection from a public health perspective, at least 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated (extrapolated from the measles and other vaccines).

You can find more answers at SCDHEC’s COVID-19 Vaccine & Vaccination FAQs.