{"id":122693,"date":"2023-09-18T21:41:09","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T01:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=122693"},"modified":"2023-09-18T21:41:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T01:41:09","slug":"requests-for-updated-covid-19-vaccine-can-start-sept-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=122693","title":{"rendered":"Requests for Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Can Start Sept. 20"},"content":{"rendered":"

LVPG practices awaiting shipments from Pfizer-BioNTech <\/em><\/p>\n

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Sept. 18, 2023) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) patients looking to get the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines, formulated to be more effective against recent circulating variants of the virus, will be able to reach out to their doctors starting Sept. 20.<\/p>\n

Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) practices are awaiting vaccine shipments from Pfizer-BioNTech and those deliveries should begin arriving next week.<\/p>\n

Patients can call their doctor\u2019s office directly or send a message to their doctor through their MyLVHN patient portal to express an interest in making an appointment to receive the new COVID vaccine once supplies arrive. COVID vaccine shots are by appointment only at LVPG practices. LVHN no longer operates large COVID-19 shot clinics as it did when the COVID-19 pandemic began more than 3\u00bd years ago.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a MyLVHN account, creating one is easy. Visit LVHN.org\/mylvhn<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

Authorizations came the week of Sept. 10 from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for updated monovalent vaccines from both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Because of the new approvals, previously approved bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are no longer administered.<\/p>\n

At this time, LVHN will only offer Pfizer-BioNTech in its practices. Both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will be available at retail pharmacies across the region. Patients may receive either new COVID vaccine, regardless of their receipt of a different COVID vaccine in the past.<\/p>\n

LVHN also expects to have COVID vaccines available soon at its ExpressCARE locations and will announce availability at those sites at a later date.<\/p>\n

The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. Like the recent COVID vaccines, the current vaccine is intended to reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death following infection with COVID. More recent data presented by the CDC indicates the COVID vaccine results in a lower likelihood of developing long COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Insurance will cover the cost of the vaccine, though an administration fee could apply in some cases. People should check with their insurance carrier for coverage information. The CDC has a Bridge Access Program<\/a> for uninsured and underinsured adults.<\/p>\n

The new monovalent COVID-19 vaccines are designed to provide more focused protection against newer stains of the virus, including XBB.1.5, a more recent descendent of the omicron variant.<\/p>\n

The CDC recommends the following if it\u2019s been at least two months since you received the older, bivalent COVID vaccine:<\/p>\n