Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 3, 1 March 2021 — Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 [ADVERTISEMENT]

Some people may experience side effects that include pain and swelling atthe injection site, headache, fever, muscle aches and being very tired. These side effects may start within a few hours after you receive the shot and should be mostly gone about 36 hours afterthe shot. It is also important to know that you cannot get the COVID-19 infection from the vaccines. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots. The first shot starts building protection, but everyone who receives the first shot has to return a few weeks later for the second one to complete the protection process. The Pfizer vaccine is about 95% effective. The Moderna vaccine is about 94% effective. For eaeh vaccine, two shots are needed to attain full immunity. Vaccines eome in vials that have either 5 or 10 doses depending on the manufacturer. Onee thawed, the doses must be used within 6 hours of opening otherwise they get thrown out. When people miss their appointments, the limited supply vaccine is in danger of being wasted so vaccination sites have lists of people that live or work nearby that are called as backup appointments. Sometimes the only people available to eome on short notice are from a different tier, whieh is how they are receiving the vaccine. The public is asked to make every effort to keep their assigned appointment times. Bring your ID, Medicare or insurance card, and, if you have one, your vaccination card. You ean help by taking care of our kūpuna. Offerto help kūpuna with online registration for the vaccine whieh ean act as a barrier for getting vaccinated. Serve as a kāko'o and drive kūpuna to their appointment; support kūpuna through the two-dose vaccination process, so this especially vulnerable population ean get protected against COVID-19.