COVID-19 | Visit LCH

At Livingston, we aim to be a helpful resource for you and your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE THE MOBILE VACCINE CLINIC

Care for All – we offer COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at select locations.

Make an appointment today by calling 833-850-3500.

All individuals 5+ are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Our staff and volunteers are working hard to expand vaccination efforts so everyone in our community can stay safe and healthy. The table below lists upcoming community vaccination clinics.

Call 833-850-3500 to schedule an appointment.

Please note that you do not need to be a current LCH patient to receive a vaccine – you just need to schedule an appointment in advance.

COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINATIONS

The vaccines that have been approved for use are safe and highly effective. They were built on two decades of medical research, and tested with trials with more than 70,000 participants – much higher than typical clinical trials. At Livingston, we strongly recommend that all eligible individuals get a vaccine.

A vaccinated community is a healthy community.

Accessing Care During the Pandemic

We want to keep our patients as safe as possible during this difficult time, which is why we have increased telehealth consultations. Our medical professionals can help treat concerns through our telehealth app, saving you unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office.

Call us at 833-850-3500 to schedule your appointment.

Click here to learn more about how to prepare for your telehealth appointment.

About the COVID-19 Vaccine AND FAQ's

Authorized and Recommended Vaccines

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

After a thorough safety review, the CDC and FDA have lifted the pause on the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine as well as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are offered at our vaccination sites.

How do the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work and how many doses do I need?

The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines do not use live or weakened versions of the coronavirus causing COVID-19. Instead, these vaccines have genetic material called mRNA or “messenger RNA” that is taken from the virus. Once injected, this material tricks our bodies into producing a protein unique to the virus. When our immune systems detect this protein, they then create cells that recognize and destroy it. These immune system cells remain in our bodies for long periods, giving us protection against the virus.

Both vaccines come in two doses. People receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will need a second dose 21 days after the first, while those who get the Moderna vaccine will need a booster 28 days later. The second dose must be completed with the same vaccine brand as the first dose. Both doses are important to ensure full protection. Two weeks after the second doses, both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were found to be more than 94 percent effective.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine can be used by people ages 16 and older, while the Moderna vaccine is for people ages 18 and older.

How does the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine work?

The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine comes in a single dose – unlike the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, which both require two doses several weeks apart. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) shot uses a “vector vaccine” method. Vector vaccines use another weakened virus – in this case, it’s an adenovirus called Ad26 – to deliver genetic material that tricks your body into making a protein which stimulates your body’s immune response. It is not possible to get COVID-19 or a sickness caused by the adenovirus through this vaccine.

Why was the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine paused? Is the vaccine safe?

After a 10-day pause in April, the CDC and FDA said on April 23 that health systems can resume giving out the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. The temporary pause gave experts time to review reports that a rare blood clot disorder called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) was occurring in women younger than 50 after they received the vaccination.

More than 8 million doses of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) have been given out across the country. As of April 25, 2021, experts found 15 reports of the blood clot disorder in women under 50 – or a rate of approximately 0.9 per 1 million vaccinations.

We will resume Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at our sites based on these recently issued recommendations. We have every indication that the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine is safe, and we consider the risk to patients to be extremely small. The chance of severe complications or hospitalization due to COVID-19 is far higher, and vaccination remains the fastest and safest way to end the pandemic.

If you have experienced concerning symptoms after receiving the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, please go to an emergency department, call 911, or reach out to your primary care provider.

COVID-19 Guidelines

COVID-19 has been present in our community for more than a year, and while the availability of vaccines is helping prevent more illness, it is critical that we all keep taking precautions to stay safe. The below guidelines come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Before you are fully vaccinated:

Wear a mask outdoors and in indoor spaces where you are interacting with people outside of your household.

Stay six feet away from others – both those in your household who are sick, and everyone outside of your household.

Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

Wash your hands after going outdoors, and keep surfaces clean and disinfected.

Monitor your health. Cough, fever, and shortness of breath could all be COVID-19 symptoms.

After you are fully vaccinated:

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving your last dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or your only dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

It is important to continue following the above precautions even after you are fully vaccinated, such as wearing a mask in public and avoiding large crowds. However, there are a few things you can do once you are fully vaccinated:

Gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without masks.
Gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household unless any members of that household are at high-risk for COVID-19.
Not quarantine for two weeks after exposure to someone who has COVID-19, if you don’t have symptoms.