Lab encourages COVID-19 vaccination

CDC vaccination graphic art

The U.S. has reached an exciting milestone; as of this week half of the adults in the country are now fully vaccinated! Ames Lab continues to strongly encourage staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19. We also recognize vaccination is a personal choice and not a requirement.

Vaccines are safe, effective, and reduce the risk of severe illness and death related to COVID-19.

Types of Vaccine

Currently, there are 3 vaccines authorized and recommended in the United States to prevent COVID-19.

  • Pfizer-BioNTech: Approved for anyone 12 years or older. 2 vaccines given 3 weeks apart.
  • Moderna: Approved for anyone 18 years or older. 2 vaccines given 4 weeks apart.
  • Johnson& Johnson/Janssen: Approved for anyone 18 years or older. 1 vaccine.

Vaccines are now widely available in Iowa. If you are interested in receiving your vaccine, you can contact your local pharmacy or primary care physician. Vaccine availability in your area can also be found at: https://vaccinate.iowa.gov/providers/.

Benefits

The biggest motivating factor for receiving a vaccination is to safely get back to doing the activities we enjoy and keeping ourselves and our loved ones healthy.

According to Occupational Medicine Staff Physician, Dr. Margaret Evans, “COVID-19 vaccination is the best tool to help us move out of this pandemic and into a more normal, although different life. I sincerely hope people feel it is in their own and family’s best interest to get vaccinated."

Once fully vaccinated (2 weeks from a 2-dose series or single J&J vaccine) individuals can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except when required by federal, state, local laws including local business and workplace guidance.

Fully vaccinated individuals may also travel domestically without testing or quarantining.

Possible Side Effects                                                                                   

Side effects typically occur within 1-2 days of receiving the vaccine. They are normal signs that your body is building an immune response and should improve within a few days. Possible side effects include;

  • Pain, Redness, or Swelling at the injection site
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Muscle Pain
  • Chills/Fever
  • Nausea

Side effects experienced after the second vaccine may be more intense than the first vaccine. You may take over-the-counter medications if approved by your doctor. Also remember to drink plenty of fluids and rest if needed.

Seek medical advice for side effects that do not improve after a few days.

Although severe reactions to the COVID vaccine are rare and typically occur within the first 15 minutes after vaccination, you should seek immediate medical advice if you believe you are having a severe allergic reaction.

Self-Report to Occ Med       

If you have been vaccinated, please report your vaccination status to Occupational Medicine. This is not a requirement and the information is kept confidential and will not be shared outside of the medical department. Reporting aids in understanding the full picture of employee vaccination rates and will help guide leadership in return to campus planning.

What if I choose to not receive a vaccination?

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are still required to wear a mask in Ames Laboratory buildings. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring mask requirements are followed, and should reach out to Human Resources if assistance is needed.

Please remember that mask use is not always an indicator of vaccination status. Please be respectful of others’ choices and privacy.

As always, we encourage speaking with a trusted healthcare professional about questions or concerns. There are things we are still learning about COVID vaccination and your provider will have the most up to date and reliable information regarding vaccines and recommendations for your personal health.

Many experts believe the pandemic is in retreat. After the last year and a half this progress is cause for genuine excitement and joy. We can continue to build on the progress we’ve made, but we need to remember we can’t get complacent. There are still many people who can’t get vaccinated or are not yet eligible to get vaccinated.

In a post COVID world, we should to take any signs and symptoms of illness seriously. Don’t forget to take a moment to evaluate your health regardless of your vaccination status every day prior to coming to work. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness you should stay home. Contact Occupational Medicine for further guidance if; you have been ill, recently tested positive for COVID-19 or have been recently exposed to COVID-19. If you become ill while at work you should immediately isolate, notify your supervisor and go home.

We need to use all of our tools to keep our families, coworkers, and community safe. Continue to wear a mask if appropriate, keep workplaces clean and wash your hands often!