COVID Vaccine Information
In collaboration with Lawrence Douglas County Public Health (LDCPH), LMH Health will be administering the COVID-19 vaccine as guided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
Where can I get the vaccine?
LMH Health Primary Care Clinics may offer Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine (1-dose series) and/or Pfizer/BioNTech (2-dose series) at these locations:
Appointment Required, Often able to schedule same day
Appointments Preferred, Walk-Ins Welcomed
First Med, 3211 South Iowa St, Suite 100, Lawrence, KS | 785-505-5475
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m.
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Pfizer Vaccine Clinic
Please visit ldchealth.org/COVIDVaccine to schedule an appointment and to view dates/times for walk-in options.
Other COVID-19 Vaccination locations in Douglas County
- Auburn Pharmacy, Baldwin & Eudora
- CVS
- Dillon’s Pharmacy
- Family Medicine Associates, PA
- Heartland Community Health Center
- Hy-Vee Pharmacy
- Jayhawk Pharmacy
- Jayhawk Pharmacy West
- Lawrence Family Medicine & Obstetrics
- Lawrence Family Practice
- Medical Arts Pharmacy
- Orchards Drug
- Sigler Pharmacy
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Watkins Health Services
What you need to know
If you haven’t received the COVID-19 vaccine yet, you may have questions about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, the cost or something else entirely. We’re here to give you the facts.
Who is eligible to get the vaccine?
Anyone who is age 12 and older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. People age 17 and under will receive the Pfizer vaccine, while those 18 and older are able to receive the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
What are the benefits of the vaccine?
A COVID-19 vaccine may prevent you from getting COVID or becoming seriously ill or dying due to COVID. It can also prevent you from spreading the virus to others.
Can you get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
No. The COVID vaccines in the U.S. don’t use live vaccine, so it won’t cause you to get the virus. Keep in mind that it takes a few weeks following a vaccination for your body to build immunity. It’s possible that you may become infected with the virus just before or after being vaccinated.
What are the long-term side effects of the vaccine?
We do know that having COVID-19 can cause significant long-term effects. Because these vaccines are new, it’s not yet clear if there will be any long-term side effects from the vaccine itself. Please know that vaccines rarely cause long-term side effects. If you’re concerned, vaccine side effects are reported to a national program called the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). You can find that information on the CDC’s website.
Should I get the vaccine even if I’ve already had COVID?
Yes! Getting COVID-19 might cause some immunity, but it’s not clear how long that protection lasts. If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you must wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.
What if I’ve got more questions about the vaccine?
If you have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your primary care provider or Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.
Please note: This resource is based on information available at the time of production. LMH Health does not make any claims or guarantees to the completeness of the information, and expressly disclaims liability for any errors or omissions. Please check our website at lmh.org/vaccine, or visit ldchealth.org/coronavirus, douglascountyks.org/coronavirus or cdc.gov for the most up-to-date information.
Vaccine safety and effectiveness
The following FAQs have stemmed from questions regarding the vaccine itself, its safety and effectiveness.
Is the vaccine free? How is the vaccine being paid for?
Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost. However, vaccination providers will be able to charge an administration fee for giving the shot to someone. Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund.
Is one vaccine better than another?
No, the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will produce the same results. They have completed clinical trials and have data which demonstrate the vaccines are safe and effective. The FDA and CDC review the data thoroughly before granting an Emergency Use Authorization.
How many doses are needed, and why?
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses - Pfizer 21 days apart, Moderna 28 days apart. A majority of COVID-19 vaccines in clinical trials require two doses. The first dose primes the immune system, helping it recognize the virus. The second dose strengthens the immune response. Receiving both doses will provide the best protection against COVID-19.
How safe is the vaccine?
The FDA carefully reviews all safety data from clinical trials and authorizes emergency vaccine use only when the expected benefits outweigh potential risks. Then, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviews all safety data. The FDA and CDC will continue to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, to make sure even very rare side effects are identified. Any approved vaccines will have undergone the same level of safety protocol as previous vaccines.
How can I trust a “rushed” vaccine?
Unfortunately, the name “Operation Warp Speed” gives the impression that clinical trials were rushed. However, other vaccines have been approved with similar Phase III clinical trial timelines. In comparison, the Shingles vaccine was studied for 13 months, the Hepatitis-B vaccine was studied for 6.5 months and COVID-19 trials have 6+ months of clinical data.
Have any of the vaccines received full approval from the FDA?
Yes! The Pfizer vaccine received full approval from the FDA on August 23, 2021. This is an important milestone that helps reassure patients with concerns about vaccination. Ready to be vaccinated? Contact your healthcare provider, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health or another vaccine provider.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine a “live” vaccine?
No. The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain a live virus or carry a risk of causing disease in the vaccinated person. mRNA technology has been studied and researched for years. To learn more about how mRNA vaccines work, read what the CDC has to say here.
If I have had COVID-19, should I still get vaccinated?
Yes. Evidence has demonstrated evidence of reinfection, so you should consider getting vaccinated.
Is it better to get natural immunity to COVID-19 (by getting sick & getting better) or getting my immunity from the vaccine?
It is unknown how long protection lasts for those who get infected or those who are vaccinated. However, COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.
Will the vaccine cause me to test positive for COVID-19 on a test?
No, the vaccine will not cause you to test positive on viral tests for COVID-19. (Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results, as the vaccine works to induce antibodies to protect you.)
Does the vaccine interfere with my DNA?
No. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nuclei of our cells, which is where our DNA (genetic material) is kept. The cell breaks down and gets rid of the mRNA soon after it is finished using the “messenger” instructions.
Will the COVID-19 vaccine cause me to feel unwell for a few days?
Fever is a potential side effect and your arm may be sore, red or warm to the touch. Symptoms typically go away on their own within a week. Side effects are a sign that the immune system is working.
How will side effects be tracked?
You or your healthcare provider may submit side effects and adverse events to VAERS – Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Report mild side effects to your primary care provider. For severe side effects, report to the nearest emergency department or call 911. You will also be able to use VSAFE – A smartphone-based tool that checks in with patients to ask about side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Now that I have received the vaccine, I am ok to not wear a mask, right?
This is incorrect. When you receive the first shot you do not become immediately immune and it takes a few days for your body to start developing antibodies. Please continue wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and washing your hands often.
Now that there is a vaccine, will COVID go away soon?
Though we wish we could say this is true, unfortunately things will not go back to how they were before COVID just yet. To achieve herd immunity, about 70 percent or more of the population will need to be vaccinated first. Though this will take time, we are hopeful that with a vaccine and community members continuing to do their active role to stop the spread, that the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter and brighter.
Pregnancy: Should I get the vaccine?
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Kansas and across the country due to the highly contagious Delta variant, many employers are mandating vaccination. Pregnancy remains an independent risk factor for severe illness caused by the COVID-19 virus. The current data is sufficient to support vaccine safety in pregnancy and lactating individuals - The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control unanimously recommend the COVID-19 vaccination for individuals who are pregnant, lactating and trying to conceive. Lawrence OB-GYN Specialists supports this recommendation as we are seeing a rise in cases and hospitalizations in our own patient population.
Watch Dr. Logan Kracht video on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant patients.
Breastfeeding: Should I get the vaccine?
According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are thought not to be a risk to lactating people or their breastfeeding babies. Therefore, lactating people can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Recent reports have shown that breastfeeding people who have received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies.
Watch Dr. Logan Kracht video on COVID-19 vaccination for breastfeeding mothers.
COVID vaccines - Third doses
I'm immunocompromised. Why should I get a third dose of a COVID vaccine?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for people with certain health conditions that compromise their immune systems. Studies have shown that two doses may not have provided the desired protection for this group, who are more likely to get seriously ill with COVID-19.
Am I eligible to get a third dose?
You may be eligible to receive a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if you have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system (Check with your doctor to see if any of your medications qualify)
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune system
Talk with your doctor about your medical condition and whether getting a third dose is appropriate for you.
Why is a third dose available to immunocompromised people?
Fully vaccinated, immunocompromised people make up a large proportion of hospitalized breakthrough cases. They may also be more likely to transmit COVID-19 to household members. Immunocompromised people commonly require different vaccine considerations than “healthy” individuals.
Download & Share: What you need to know about the COVID Vaccine (pdf)
Download and Share: Vaccine Safety & Effectiveness FAQs (pdf)
Stay safe
Please continue to practice infection prevention measures. Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. Avoid large gatherings. Most of all, stay safe and take care of yourselves and each other.
Updated: September 15, 2021
