Covid-19 Resource Guide on Vaccines, Staying Safe, and How to Help Others
Links to charities to help others, and links to public health recommendations to stay safe and informed.
With vaccines rolling out consistently across the U.S. now, we wanted to update the information here to include resources for vaccinations and the latest scientific and medical guidelines from experts to keep you and others safe and healthy. The spread of Covid-19 is known to be related to airborne droplets, and scientists have confirmed the virus spreads largely through inhaled droplets, which can spread very easily, even by people without any symptoms. There are also Covid-19 variants that are circulating in different regions around the world, so make sure to read ways to stay safe from those other strains of the virus from Everyday Health. You can do your part to help accelerate our efforts to end this pandemic by getting vaccinated to protect yourself and others.
As we continue to learn more about the virus, we will keep you informed on the latest information for you to stay as safe as you can.
Vaccinations
Who’s eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?
*Update May 13: The CDC has announced that anyone fully vaccinated in the U.S. after the two-week wait time following your second dose (or one dose with Johnson & Johnson), is able to resume activities without wearing a mask or social distancing, unless in areas required by law, local regulations (including workplaces and businesses), or traveling (such as on airplanes, trains or buses).People are considered fully vaccinated according to the CDC from the following:
"2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine."
The CDC says if you do not meet the above requirements, you are not fully vaccinated and you must take all of the precautions until you take the full vaccination steps, which include wearing a mask and social distancing.
Please read below if you need help finding a vaccine location or to stay up to date on how to stay safe if you are not yet vaccinated.
*Update April 27: Everyone over the age of 16 years old in the U.S. is now eligible to get vaccinated.
*Update: The CDC and FDA have called for a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, following a rare blood clotting disorder that has happened in six women two weeks after receiving the vaccine. Read below for more details and symptoms to look out for if you've received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The CDC has a detailed list of how the COVID-19 vaccine is being rolled out in phases -- first to specific age groups such as those above 75 years old, and frontline workers in health care. Those with pre-existing conditions were also able to receive the vaccine in many states, and other age groups have since opened up and followed. As supplies for vaccines increase, other groups are being added to eligibility lists, which ultimately vary per state in the U.S.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations.html
How do I make an appointment to receive the vaccine?
The site Vaccinefinder.org is a quick and easy way to search by your zip code to find all locations near you that have vaccines in stock for you to make an appointment immediately. (See below for the process of getting on a waitlist, or call the local place on the list and inquire how to do so through them.)
The CDC offers a “find your state” option in a drop-down menu for easy access: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/older-adults.html
You might have to do your own research on finding a vaccine in your state. Here are directions on how to use Google to find information for every other state:
Step 1. Go to https://www.google.com/
Step 2. Type in 'Covid-19 Vaccine "My State"' (ie: Covid-19 Vaccine Montana)
Step 3. Look at the top results, and one of them will have a .gov URL and will be an accurate resource for information about vaccinations in your state.
If you live in one of the US’s five most populous states you can find a link to your state below:
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California: My Turn and California Department of Public Health created a resource quiz for those living in the state to find out if you are eligible for vaccinations: https://myturn.ca.gov/
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Texas: Texas Health and Human Services have an online hub where you can find a vaccine provider list, as well as an availability map in your area: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us
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Florida: Florida has a Covid-19 website that is very easy to find vaccine locations by city, along with information on vaccines, testing for the virus, and data: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov
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New York: New York has its own Covid-19 website that houses all information pertaining to the pandemic and vaccine roll out in the state: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/
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Pennsylvania: The Department of Health in Pennsylvania offers a clickable site where you can easily find out if you're eligible, where you can get vaccinated, what to know before you go, and more: https://www.health.pa.gov
Where can I get vaccinated?
Along with local clinics, pharmacies, grocery stores, retail chains, and other businesses offer the vaccine, such as; CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, and even the Museum of Natural History in NYC.
Find a location nearest you from the Vaccine Finder tool: https://vaccinefinder.org/search/
What is the cost?
The vaccine is FREE in the US and you don’t need insurance to receive it. Your health insurance company will cover the costs if you are insured, though, so have your insurance card ready when you make your appointment.
Authorized Vaccines
Below is a list of the currently authorized vaccines in the US. Note the effectiveness is based on large studies and is not necessarily an indication of how the vaccine will perform in public. MedPage Today has a comparison chart of the Covid-19 vaccines, including how many doses the US has received.
Pfizer-BioNTech:
Effectiveness: 95%
Number of shots needed: 2 shots (21 days apart)
Children 12 years and older are now able to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Pfizer-BioNTech.html
Moderna:
Effectiveness: 94.1%
Number of shots needed: 2 shots (28 days apart)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Moderna.html
*Johnson & Johnson: on hold
Please note: The CDC and FDA have issued a joint statement to pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, due to rare blood clotting that occurred in six women approximately two weeks after receiving the vaccine. Dozens of states have supported the ask, and are no longer offering the vaccine at this time, as well as retail pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens. We will update here as more information is released.
If you have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the past two weeks, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the C.D.C. shared with the NYTimes what to look for in terms of symptoms that could relate to the clotting. “For people who recently got the vaccine within the last couple of weeks, they should be aware, to look for any symptoms. If you receive the vaccine and develop severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath, you should contact your health care provider and seek medical treatment,” Dr. Schuchat said.
Effectiveness: 66.3%
Number of shots needed: 1 shot (two-dose regimen being tested)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/janssen.html
How do Covid-19 vaccines work?
The CDC has an explanation of how exactly Covid-19 vaccines work in your body to develop immunity to the virus. The scientific facts can be found below:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html
Scientific American has a guide on commonly asked questions about the vaccines, including what the efficacy percentages mean in comparison to their effectiveness, along with information on new virus variants, allergies to be aware of, and more:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-answer-the-biggest-covid-vaccine-questions1/
Overall, not much is known yet in relation to vaccines being a permanent solution to Covid-19, and there are still many questions surrounding them. The CDC has put together a handy guide to go over the current facts, as well as the common myths surrounding them, to keep you in the know as more information develops.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
Due to variants in the Covid-19 strain that are still being researched by scientists, it’s extremely important to continue to wear a mask and follow all safety guidelines even after you’ve been vaccinated.
Are There Any Vaccine Side Effects?
The CDC describes side effects that may widely vary for those receiving the vaccine. Those include pain, swelling, or redness in the arm, where you receive the shot, chills, tiredness, and headaches. The CDC and most people who have experienced side effects, say they last for only 1-3 days. You can read more about side effects here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
How to Get on a Vaccine Standby List
Due to some people not showing up for their vaccine appointments, certain places are accepting standby lists so those vaccines don't go to waste. You can join a standby list at any time.CVS has an easy tool right on their website to check vaccination availability, and here are some tips on how you can find locations with available vaccines and call to get yourself on a standby list.
Step 1. Go to https://www.cvs.com/
Step 2. Click on "Check Vaccine Availability"
Step 3. Find your state in the drop down and click it. A list of all cities in the state will pop up and you can see ones that say "Available" or "Fully Booked." When you find one (or more) that say "Available" make note of those locations.
Step 4. Call those locations and speak to someone at that specific location – not a customer service line. Proceed to ask if they have an unused vaccine standby list and ask to please get added to it. Sources say to add yourself to as many lists as possible, to give yourself a greater possibility of receiving a vaccine.
Step 5. Some locations may not have a standby list yet, so people are told to check back with that location in a week or two if that's the case.
While many of us are working from home, staying home from school, and hunkering down, there will be lots of time to play games, read comics, and stream TV and movies. But between these distractions, we hope you all stay safe, stay home, and, if you can, help others.
What Are Safety Guidelines for Vaccinated People?
The CDC has issued guidance for fully vaccinated to help protect the un-vaccinated people around them while lifting some restrictions (with plenty of caveats). The CDC defines "fully vaccinated" as the period that begins two weeks after having received the full dosage or dosages of the vaccine course (which varies by vaccine, see Authorized Vaccines on this page). Here is the CDC's own summary of its guidelines: Fully vaccinated people can:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
- Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
- Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic
The CDC advises that fully vaccinated people maintain all other safety precautions (see the Stay Safe section on this page), including wearing masks and distancing in public and around high-risk, unvaccinated individuals, and to continue to avoid travel and medium and large gatherings entirely. Note also that these are "interim" guidelines that might continue to evolve along with the science. Read the entire CDC Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People here.
Staying Safe
Recently, scientists and the CDC have confirmed the spread of Covid-19 through surfaces is extremely low, contrary to what was first advised. The NYTimes said, "the risk of contracting the virus from touching a contaminated surface was less than 1 in 10,000."
The CDC guidelines on how to protect yourselves and others can be found here. We keep this list updated, and these include what you’ve probably heard already:
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Wear a mask. The CDC recommends you should wear a mask to prevent others from getting sick, even if you don't have symptoms. Here's a guide from the CDC on how to choose the proper mask for your needs, how to wear one, and clean the one you have, along with a step-by-step guide on how to make a mask yourself if you do not have access to one.
- Double up and wear two masks if possible to make sure you have extra protection with other Covid-19 strains. The CDC recommends wearing a disposable mask (such as a NIOSH approved KN95 mask) under a cloth mask whenever possible.
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Stay home. You may spread the virus to others without having any symptoms.
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Avoid person-to-person contact, and if you must venture out (e.g. shopping for essentials), make sure you wear a mask and stay six feet away from others. The CDC says the virus overall can be contracted three ways, including through airborne transmission, respiratory droplets, and physical contact.
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Wash your hands for at least 20 (real) seconds.
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Washing your hands can dry them out. Try patting them dry instead of rubbing, and if needed, it's safe to use a moisturizing hand cream after washing. Dermatologists recommend using Vaseline for deep cracks at night.
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The USDA has received no reports of food and food packaging transmitting the virus. The USDA recommends these good food hygiene practices that will generally help you stay healthy and out of the hospital.
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Here's a heat map of where COVID-19 is spreading.
The rest of CDC’s guidelines page is helpful, with good tips even if you don’t live in the US, so please check it out.
How to Help
India’s Covid cases have surged and it’s estimated that infections are spreading to over 300,000 people per day, with cases estimated to rise above 500,000 per day later this year. India’s hospitals are full and oxygen and other supplies are running short, which is causing a national crisis for India.Below we’ve assembled some ways you can help those affected by the pandemic in India via your donations and support of the following organizations.
UNICEF
UNICEF USA is bringing supplies to frontline workers and critical care facilities, including oxygen concentrators, diagnostic testing systems, PPE kits, and hygiene products.Care India
Care India provides PPE kits and other medical-grade equipment to hospitals and facilities in India, as well as sets up temporary hospitals for Covid-19 patients. Since the pandemic began, Care India has provided close to 40,000 PPE kits, over 200,000 masks, 100,000 liters of sanitizer, and 2,000 liters of disinfectant.Indian Red Cross
Volunteers and those on staff are helping deliver medical supplies and masks, are running blood drive centers, and helping with ambulance services wherever possible. They are taking donations of funds to purchase supplies, as well as donations of medical supplies in person.https://indianredcross.org/ircs/donatenow
Rapid Response
The Indian disaster relief organization is providing dry food to those in need, such as rice, lentils, and sugar, along with medical supplies, including PPE kits, masks, beds, and mattresses.https://www.rapidresponse.org.in/coronavirusrelief.html
PATH
With a 200-person team on the ground in India, PATH is helping to find medical oxygen supplies for Covid-19 patients, as well as increasing testing.https://www.path.org/p/india-medical-oxygen/
Making the Difference
The Making a Difference organization is helping find and deliver medical supplies to public hospitals in Mumbai, specifically oxygen and hospital beds. They are also distributing meal kits for at-home Covid-19 patients.https://makingthedifference.in/
Even if we’re being told to maintain safe distances from one another, we can still find creative ways to help each other out -- and to help out those in need.
https://www.feedingamerica.org/ Feeding America has a great tool that lets you look up local food banks and donate to them. With runs on food in stores despite supply not being curbed in any way, the most vulnerable will need access to food.
https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ According to the CDC, “Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.” Meals on Wheels delivers food to vulnerable seniors in local communities. Meal deliveries can help sustain the CDC recommended social isolation guidelines.
https://www.aspca.org/ Displaced people can also result in pets in need, so Google your local SPCA or donate to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The ASPCA is collecting donations nationally here.
https://getusppe.org/ Doctors and volunteers got together to create this site to donate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). "GetUsPPE is a grassroots coalition of volunteers mobilized to address the PPE shortage and get healthcare heroes the protection they need."
https://www.nursingworld.org/ The American Nurses Association is accepting donations for those working on the front lines, including mental health support, financial assistance due to Covid-19 diagnosis, and continuing education resources on the pandemic. Donations can be made here: https://www.nursingworld.org/foundation
Help Researchers Combat the Pandemic
Here are some ways you can help scientists and other researchers learn more about the virus and developer tools to combat it.
https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/donate-covid-19-plasma The FDA is now requesting plasma from people that have recovered in search of a treatment.
https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html And the Red Cross is also in need of blood from people that have recovered to support research programs. You can also donate blood to The Red Cross to support the general need.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/giving.html Johns Hopkins is also raising money for both medical response and vaccine research. "Our medical teams — doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff — are working around the clock to help patients with this dangerous disease. Our scientists are tirelessly pressing onward to expose the biology of COVID-19, advance testing capacity, and develop both a preventive vaccine and a curative treatment."
Help Worldwide Efforts to Stop the Pandemic
You can donate to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to support the global response to the pandemic. "The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading and coordinating the global effort, supporting countries to prevent, detect, and respond to the pandemic." https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/donate
Local Help and Safety
Finally, do a search locally for how you can help. Local papers have great lists of local places in need. Check out these lists of places to help for New York residents and Boston residents, for example. Many local food producers and restaurants are open (and also in need of your support), so get food delivered, if need be, or practice the safe behavior above when venturing out to your local restaurants and grocers. Here are some of the latest local guidelines for staying safe and healthy in populous US regions; your region is likely just a search away.
For international readers, please also search for local ways to stay safe. For English language readers worldwide, here are some helpful links:
By working together we can end this pandemic more quickly -- by following safety guidelines put in place by the CDC and WHO, which include getting vaccinated, continuing to wear masks, social distancing, and following other steps laid out above. At IGN, we have completely shifted to working from home to keep ourselves and others protected, so our shows and podcasts may look a little different from home instead of at our studios, but we’ll still continue to bring all of our same content to you with the same quality and energy.
