Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine is a safer alternative to immunity and an important tool to help us end the pandemic.

When will I be eligible to receive the vaccine?

The Department of Health has established a vaccination plan to work through priority groups. Each priority group is immunized as vaccination doses become available. Once all individuals in one priority group has been offered the opportunity to receive the vaccine, the Department of Health instructs vaccinators to move to the next priority group. Information about where to go and how to receive it if you fall into a priority group will be available at that time. You can find out if you fall in a priority group by checking brookingshealth.org/Vaccine or by calling the Helpline Center at 211.

Currently the Department of Health predicts vaccines will be available for the general public in May 2021. 

What is the timeline for vaccine distribution?

The Department of Health has established a vaccination plan with phases to cover priority groups, such as health care workers and those 
most at risk from COVID-19, first. Once one phase or sub-phase is completed, vaccinations will be offered to the next eligible group. How quickly each group can be vaccinated depends on the number of doses allocated and the number of people in that group choosing to receive the vaccine. 

Brookings Health will move through the phases and priority groups as quickly as we are able. You may find a link to the Department of Health’s estimated timetable for each group at brookingshealth.org/Vaccine. 

Where will the vaccine be distributed?

Vaccine distribution may vary depending upon the 
number of vaccine doses received. Smaller vaccine allocations may be distributed at the hospital, one of the local clinics or another site. Mass vaccination points of dispensing, commonly called PODs or community vaccination centers, will happen with the assistance of the Brookings County Pandemic Planning and Coordination Committee (PPCC) at sites such as the Swiftel Center or SDSU. Information will be given for each vaccine event at that time.

Who will give the vaccine? 

All vaccines will be administered by licensed health care professionals who are trained to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Can I get my vaccination from Brookings Health System if I do not live in Brookings County? 

Brookings Health has been appointed by the Department of Health as the vaccine distributor for Brookings County only. Vaccine distributors for surrounding counties are: 

• Kingsbury: Avera De Smet Memorial Hospital
• Hamlin: Sanford Health Lake Norden & Sanford Health Estelline
• Deuel: Sanford Health Clear Lake
• Moody: Avera Medical Group Flandreau
• Lake: Madison Regional Health System

Is the vaccine safe? 

The U.S. vaccine safety system works to ensure all vaccines are as safe as possible. Federal agencies and vaccine manufacturers alike have made safety a top priority as they have developed and authorized a COVID-19 vaccine. All vaccines go through clinical trial to test safety and effectiveness. For COVID-19, the FDA setup rigorous standards for developers to meet. Once a vaccine has been authorized for use, monitoring continues to track problems or side effects that were not detected during clinical trials. Problems are most likely to emerge early in the testing process where they can be identified and addressed. 

So far, none of the vaccine trials have reported any serious safety concerns. People with severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to injectable medications, components of the vaccine or other vaccines should discuss the risk with their primary care provider.

How does the vaccine work? 

The COVID-19 vaccination helps protect people by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness. By avoiding getting sick  from the virus, people also avoid the severe risks and complications of the virus, including possible death. 

Why do I need two doses of the same vaccine? 

When a vaccine requires two doses, the first dose helps your body recognize the virus and gets your immune system ready. The second shot strengthens your immune response, preparing your body to fight infection. 

One shot of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not as effective in protecting you from COVID-19 as two shots are. One dose is only about 50% effective; two doses are about 95% effective. Because each vaccine is designed slightly differently, Pfizer and Moderna are not interchangeable. 

If you receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you will only need one dose.

What side effects does the vaccine cause? 

Reactions from a vaccine are a normal response and means the vaccine and your immune system are both working correctly. The COVID-19 vaccines have been associated with the following side effects which were sometimes slightly worse after the second dose: 

• Redness or swelling at the injection site
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Joint Pain
• Headache
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Vomiting and Diarrhea

Side effect length varies from person to person, but generally they go away within a few days.

How long after I get the vaccine will it start to be effective?

It typically takes a couple of weeks for the body to build immunity after receiving the vaccine. 

Can we stop wearing masks and social distancing once we have the vaccine? 

NO. The vaccine is one tool to help end the COVID-19 pandemic. Combining the vaccination with other measures gives us the best opportunity to stop the pandemic. The CDC will not know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts until they have more data. As such, other safety measures, including mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand washing, should continue until further guidance is given by the CDC and South Dakota Department of Health. 

If I’ve had COVID-19, will I need a vaccination? 

YES. According to the CDC, there is not enough information currently available on natural immunity to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this.

The COVID-19 vaccine is the next step to end this pandemic. When your turn comes, roll up your sleeve! Help us get back to what we miss most.