COVID-19 Vaccination

UT Southwestern continues to follow state and federal guidance for distribution. As of May 12, ages 12 and older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

Because the initial supply of the vaccine is limited, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided recommendations to state and local governments about who should be vaccinated first. CDC’s recommendations are based on those from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of medical and public health experts.

Recommendations are made with these goals:

• Decrease death and serious disease as much as possible.
• Preserve functioning of society.
• Reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities.

UTSW is pleased to now offer immediate scheduling for our four vaccination locations. View all available appointments by visiting our scheduling page.

Additional vaccine locations can be found at vaccines.gov.

COVID-19 vaccines are free to the public under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Any charge for administering the vaccine will be paid for by your health insurance or the federal government’s Provider Relief Fund.

We are providing COVID-19 vaccinations at one location, by appointment only:

• UT Southwestern’s West Campus Building 3, 2001 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX, 75390

We’d like to extend our appreciation to our friends at Market Hall, RedBird Mall, and The University of Texas at Dallas for opening their doors to UT Southwestern and making it possible for us to provide thousands of vaccinations across each of those sites for several months.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines each require two doses. The recommended time frame for second doses is as follows*:

• Pfizer: 21 days after your first dose
• Moderna: 28 days (or more) after your first dose

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UTSW infectious disease experts stress the importance of getting fully vaccinated to achieve maximum efficacy, but there is flexibility in the time frame for your second dose.

*While the second dose should be administered as close to the recommendations as possible, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be scheduled for administration up to six weeks (42 days) after the first dose.

Doses that are given after the recommended time frame are considered valid and do not require the series to be restarted.

You will receive a MyChart scheduling reminder. Please note that appointments will not be available until UTSW has received its dedicated second-dose shipment of vaccines, so continue to check for open slots in MyChart as you near your due date. Do not be alarmed if appointments do not become available until the last minute. If you received your first dose of vaccine at UTSW, you are guaranteed your second dose.

When vaccines are available, you will have the option to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine either through the “Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine” quick link icon or through a scheduling ticket. You can find more detailed instructions in the “How to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine via MyChart” tip sheet.

To get started, click the link below or select the “Schedule an Immunization” Quick Link on the MyChart home screen, and follow the prompts. If you return to MyChart and no longer see that icon, take these steps:

1. On the main menu, click the three bars to bring up the drop-down menu.
2. Under “Find Care,” click “Schedule an Appointment” and look for your COVID-19 Vaccination scheduling ticket. You will see a prompt that “You have an appointment that needs to be scheduled.”
3. After clicking “Schedule now,” appointment times will display as slots become available.

UT Southwestern has not experienced and does not anticipate any delays in receiving our second-dose shipments. Both the state and the vaccine manufacturers have assured us that second doses will be available to us on time.

As part of our own protocols at UT Southwestern, we are prioritizing second doses when we allocate and schedule vaccination appointments. We are confident that you will receive your second dose on time.

If you test positive for COVID-19, it is recommended that you wait until you have fully recovered and been cleared by your provider, before receiving your second dose. After that, you can receive your vaccine even if beyond the recommended 21-day mark for second-dose Pfizer and 28 days for Moderna. Having COVID-19 essentially primes your immune system, and so it is acceptable to delay the second vaccine up to 90 days without having to restart the series. 

Although the CDC indicates that you can wait up to 90 days to be vaccinated since the risk of reinfection is low, there is no minimum time you need to wait for your second dose after you have recovered.

The only exception is if you received a monoclonal antibody or plasma COVID-19 treatment. If so, then you should wait 90 days before receiving the second dose because these treatments may make the vaccine less effective if administered within 90 days. Please speak with your provider if you have any questions.

If you are exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19, you should wait until you are cleared from your quarantine period, 14 days after exposure, before receiving the second vaccine dose.

UT Southwestern is mainly receiving Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and some Moderna.

The FDA has authorized for emergency use vaccines created by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use what’s called messenger RNA (mRNA), which in this case is a synthetic material that carries the genetic code used to make the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The spike is the part of the virus that attaches to human cells. The mRNA is showing your immune system a part of the virus, so that when your body encounters the whole virus in real-life, it recognizes the invader and is able to mount a quick immune response, activating antibodies (B and T-cells) to fight it.

Vaccines using mRNA are new but the technology has been around for decades and has been used in treatments for other diseases such as cancer and cystic fibrosis. While many vaccines use a weakened or inactive version of the virus to create an immune response, these vaccines don’t so there is no risk of their causing disease.

The J&J vaccine is an adenoviral vector vaccine, which means it contains an engineered virus that can't cause disease. Within that virus is the genetic code for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After the shot, the adenovirus enters the cells and then shows that spike protein to your immune system so that if you encounter the whole virus in real-life, your body can mount a quick and effective response to fight it.

On April 13, distribution of the J&J vaccine for COVID-19 was paused by the FDA while it conducted an investigation into reports of rare blood clots in a few patients shortly after receiving that vaccine. On April 23, J&J vaccinations resumed following an extensive safety review by the CDC and FDA, which determined the benefits of the single-shot J&J vaccine outweigh the exceptionally rare risk of blood clots. An independent panel of experts reiterated the vaccine meets the FDA’s standards for safety and effectiveness while also making sure that more information about the possible side effect is available to the public.

In Phase three clinical trials involving thousands of people, all three vaccines were completely effective in preventing serious COVID-19 illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. They were also well above the 50% efficacy rate necessary to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were nearly 95% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in clinical trials and 100 % effective in preventing hospitalization and death. This is about as good as it gets, according to the nation’s top infectious disease experts, including Dr. Trish Perl, Chief of UT Southwestern’s Infectious Diseases Division. The single-shot J&J vaccine was 67% effective in preventing all COVID-19 illness in clinical trials. It was 85% effective in preventing severe illness, and 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths.

UT Southwestern’s Vaccine Science Review Committee independently reviewed clinical trial data of the vaccine candidates prior to administering a vaccine to employees and patients. You can read those reports here.

Read the Pfizer scientific review.
Read the Moderna scientific review.

UT Southwestern infectious diseases experts say there is no reason to think these mutations will impact the effectiveness of the vaccines currently available. Several mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been documented since the beginning of the pandemic. The U.K. variant appears to be about 40% more transmissible or contagious and could become the dominant virus lineage in the U.S. The emergence of these new variants reinforces the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available to you. We also must continue to practice the safety measures that have successfully reduced the spread of COVID-19 thus far.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots. The first shot triggers the immune response, and the second one, often called a “booster,” primes the body to memorize the virus so it will recognize it immediately in the future and fight it off. Many vaccines require boosters, such as tetanus, shingles, and MMR.

The Pfizer vaccine requires a second shot 21 days after the first; for Moderna the shots should be given 28 days apart. If you skip the second shot, it’s less likely you’ll develop full immunity.

J&J is a one-shot vaccine that can be stored at refrigerator temperature for much longer.

Yes. The approved mRNA vaccinations are not identical, and clinical trials did not examine data regarding combining shots. So, you should receive the same vaccine booster as your first dose.

The vaccines appear to maintain high efficacy rates regardless of age, sex, and ethnicity. For example, Pfizer’s vaccine was 94% effective in adults over age 65, according to safety data. All three vaccines have also been tested in people with stable pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and cancer, and efficacy rates held at essentially the same levels.

Cold chain requirements vary and are based on the formulation of the vaccine. In some, such as the Pfizer vaccine (stored at -70 degrees Celsius; think dry ice), the molecules become unstable and degrade if they are left out in warmer temperatures. Moderna’s vaccine needs to be stored at -20 degrees Celsius, or about the temperature of a regular freezer.

With additional studies being conducted, it could become apparent that the vaccines don’t require such low temperatures, but they were developed and tested in a specific way during the clinical trials so that is the protocol to follow. Several other vaccines, such as one from Johnson & Johnson, require only refrigeration.

It’s unclear how long natural immunity lasts after recovering from COVID-19, and there has been some data to suggest it begins to wane after 90 days. Similarly, the level of immunity you have after COVID-19 therapies such as convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies is unknown. There have been a few reported cases of reinfection, so the CDC may advise people to get a vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before.

There is a well-established testing and clinical trial regimen that must be followed for the FDA to consider approving a vaccine. For these COVID-19 vaccines, the research was performed concurrently, rather than consecutively, and the wait times for review of the research were substantially reduced through Operation Warp Speed, a federal program that invested in development and manufacturing of the vaccines.

No steps were skipped, and safety was not sacrificed for speed.

An independent and transparent monitoring board of experts reviewed the trial data, and career scientists evaluated it at the FDA. Clinical trial information has been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Vaccinology is one of the safest interventions we have in patient care and disease prevention, and it has a long history of protecting the public – from smallpox to polio to measles. Yes, there are low-grade side effects, but they are minor compared with the protections that a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine can provide.

Vaccines are typically tested in adults first to ensure they’re safe before pediatric trials begin. While historically, pregnant women have not been included in vaccine trials, a small number of women in the Pfizer clinical trial became pregnant during the study, without any short-term complications.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has said it will issue guidance soon on when or if pregnant patients should get vaccinated and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the vaccine for women who are pregnant, wanting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Women should discuss this with their personal physician.

At this time, vaccinations are approved for ages 12 and older.

Severe allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare, even for people who have a history of allergies to food, pets, environmental factors, or oral medications. Still, UT Southwestern is following the CDC’s recommendations and observing patients for 15 minutes in a safe environment after vaccination to monitor for any adverse effects.

Patients who have had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine, an intravenous medication, or an injectable in the past should discuss COVID-19 vaccination with their provider. In the majority of cases, you can still get the vaccine but with a 30-minute observation period instead.

If you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to one of the components in the COVID-19 vaccines, such as polyethylene glycol or polysorbate, it is recommended that you do NOT get one of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines. Also, if you’ve had a severe or immediate allergic reaction to the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, you should NOT get the second dose until you discuss the specifics of the reaction with your provider.

The FDA, “out of an abundance of caution,” decided on April 13 to pause distribution of the J&J vaccine after a small number of women between the ages of 18 and 48 experienced blood clots within 13 days of vaccination.

Scientists at the FDA and CDC reviewed safety data and on April 23 recommended that J&J vaccinations resume, stating the vaccine’s known and potential benefits far outweigh its potential risks. Women younger than 50 should be aware of the rare but increased risk, the CDC said, and that there are other COVID-19 vaccine options available.

It’s important to keep in mind that these blood clots were extremely rare, so no additional testing is recommended if you received the J&J vaccine and are not experiencing any symptoms. Continue to monitor for side effects for three weeks post-vaccination. After that time, the risk of an adverse reaction is very unlikely.

If you received the J&J vaccine within that time frame and are experiencing new symptoms – very severe headaches, leg pain, or shortness of breath – please contact your physician for an evaluation and let them know you recently received the J&J vaccine.

The CDC and FDA will continue to monitor the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines.

If you are feeling unwell or are having symptoms of COVID-19, please speak with your provider who may recommend that you defer your vaccination until a later date.

There is no evidence or reason to think COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility, despite some claims to the contrary circulating on the internet. Those reports are rooted in the theory that because the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein resembles the syncytin-1 protein, which is crucial for formation of the placenta, the COVID-19 vaccines might prompt an immune response that targets the placenta protein. But virologists say the two proteins are completely unrelated and not similar enough to confuse antibodies that attack the virus.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was recently granted emergency use authorization by the FDA for children ages 12-15. Currently, it is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for ages 12-17, and it requires two shots given 21 days apart.

Yes. The two Pfizer vaccine doses are exactly the same as those given to people ages 16+.

The COVID-19 vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring program in U.S. history, including studies in adolescents. Pfizer conducted clinical trials that included 2,000 adolescents ages 12-15, half of whom were randomized to receive the vaccine and half to receive a placebo. Vaccine efficacy was 100 percent. There were no cases of COVID-19 among the approximately 1,000 trial participants who received the vaccine. There were 16 cases reported among the more than 970 placebo recipients.

No. According to safety data from Pfizer’s clinical trials, the most common side effects for adolescents ages 12-15 were some soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever, and joint pain – all of which are consistent with trials in older teens and adults. These side effects go away after a few days. There were no reports of serious side effects like blood clots, serious allergic reactions, or Bell’s palsy in the adolescent clinical trials. Long-term side effects are extremely unlikely. Historically, vaccine side effects have occurred within six weeks of vaccine administration. Millions of people have had the COVID-19 vaccine and no long-term side effects have been noted in post-vaccine monitoring.

Yes. A parent or legal guardian must accompany children ages 12-17 to the vaccination appointment and sign consent forms in person.

Yes. Your child should continue to take their normal medications as prescribed.

Not unless they have a fever. There is no need to limit their activities.

Yes. It’s not known how long natural immunity lasts, and there have been some reported cases of reinfection.

Wait until they’re feeling better and no longer need to isolate based on CDC guidelines.

Be honest. Remind them that vaccines pinch when they are given, but it will not last long. Discuss the benefits of the vaccine, such as returning to a more “normal life” including sports, school activities, and travel.

Pfizer and Moderna have enrolled children as young as 6 months in clinical trials. Those results are pending and if the data show the vaccines are safe in this age group, the FDA will make vaccines available to younger children.

It is rare for children to get seriously ill from COVID-19, but children 12 and older have needed hospital care for COVID-19, particularly those with underlying health conditions, such as weakened immune systems, obesity, or chronic lung conditions. Additionally, early data show that vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus to others.

Your child is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose vaccine.

No. Although these drugs could help with potential side effects, they could also affect your immune response, making the vaccine less effective. It is recommended that you take them after your vaccine only if you are experiencing pain, swelling, or fever.

The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site and headache, with most side effects lasting less than 48 hours.

Clinical trial participants reported arm soreness, fatigue, chills, fever, or headaches that lasted a day or two, most often after the second shot. But that reaction is typically a sign that the vaccine is working – triggering the immune response (or inflammation) indicating your body recognizes this never-before-seen pathogen and is mounting a protective response against it.

The clinical trials will continue to monitor patients for side effects long after patients are vaccinated. The state of Texas will use the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a national system co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA, to track vaccine safety and side effects. Texas will also employ an app called V-safe, which sends vaccine recipients text messages and check-in emails to keep tabs on their health, as well as remind them when it’s time to get their second shot.

It is possible to have a delayed reaction or side effect starting more than seven days after your vaccination including fever, body aches, headache, and injection site reactions. Delayed injection site reactions have been reported including pain, swelling, itching, and redness. This is not considered an allergic reaction and does not prevent you from receiving your second vaccination. In addition, these reactions are a positive sign that your immune system is responding to the vaccination. If you have any concerns, please speak with your primary care provider.

Phase three vaccine trial participants were monitored for 60 days after receiving their second shot, which is required before any safety data can be submitted to the FDA. Typically, if a patient hasn’t experienced severe side effects in 60 days, it is extremely unlikely they will. But because these vaccines are so new, significant long-term data are still being collected.

According to clinical trial safety documents released by the FDA on Dec. 10, there were four cases of Bell's palsy, a condition that temporarily weakens the facial muscles, among Pfizer clinical trial participants who received the vaccine. The rates of Bell’s palsy, however, were no different than what occurs in the general population and there is no evidence the vaccine caused the problem. Still, the FDA is likely to recommend follow-up investigation.

The FDA documents said the Pfizer vaccine showed 95% immunity seven days after the second shot and the Moderna vaccine showed 94.5% immunity 14 days after the second shot. The full response takes time to develop after the second vaccine, and therefore one is not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after the second dose.

The booster is necessary to strengthen the immune response and provide full protection. Also, keep in mind that exposure is still possible between doses, so continue to wear a mask and follow hand-washing and physical distancing recommendations.

There’s no definitive way to tell yet, but some studies have indicated it could last years, even decades. The research showed that patients who contracted COVID-19 early in 2020 had robust antibodies six months later. Studies of survivors of SARS, also caused by a coronavirus, showed that participants carried immune cells 17 years after being infected. So there are some reasons to be encouraged, but scientists will need to continue monitoring the length and strength of immune responses in vaccinated patients.

Although both vaccines are very effective, they are not 100% effective, so it is still possible, but highly unlikely, that you could contract COVID-19.

Vaccine trials tested whether participants would produce antibodies to shield them from developing COVID-19 symptoms or severe illness, but it is still not clear if vaccinated people could develop asymptomatic infection and potentially transmit the virus. It is imperative that you continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and wash your hands.

No. The vaccines will not influence the results of PCR or antigen COVID-19 tests, as the vaccine does not contain the virus itself – rather it prompts the body to produce antibodies specific for the spike protein. The spike protein is like a key the virus uses to “unlock” and enter our cells. The PCR and antigen tests look for the genetic code of the virus itself, which is not contained in the vaccine, but rather is only present during the viral infection.

Yes. People will be getting vaccinated throughout much of 2021. Until a majority of the population has been vaccinated – some estimates say vaccinating 80% of Americans would help us reach herd immunity – wearing a mask, washing your hands, practicing physical distancing, and avoiding large, indoor gatherings will continue to be important tools to limit spread.