COVID-19 Vaccination at Pittsburgh Mercy

The COVID-19 vaccines that are available in the United States are effective at protecting people – especially those who are boosted – from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying. The vaccines are designed to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. As with other diseases, you are best protected from COVID-19 when you stay up to date with the recommended vaccines.

Pittsburgh Mercy is committed to vaccinating people and communities who are the most vulnerable. We are working with community partners to help ensure equitable distribution of the vaccine.

Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccinations & Boosters

The CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. The recommendations are based on your age, the vaccines you have received, and the length of time since your last dose.

  • Everyone aged 6 years and older should get 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date.
  • People aged 65 years and older may get a 2nd dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
  • People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Children aged 6 months–5 years may need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, depending on the number of doses they’ve previously received and their age.
  • Every person’s health status is different. If you have questions about whether an additional dose of the updated vaccine is right for you, contact your health care provider or call the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Immunization Clinic at 412-578-8062.

Get Your Updated Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine

If you are at least 18 years of age and need an updated, bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, Pittsburgh Mercy can help. We offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to adults 18 years and older. Appointments are not necessary. Come to the Pittsburgh Mercy Pharmacy at 249 South 9th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you need personal assistance, please call the Pittsburgh Mercy Pharmacy at 412-246-2380.

COVID-19 Vaccination Consent Form

Pittsburgh Mercy COVID-19 Immunization Registration, Acknowledgement, & Consent Form

Please complete the consent form and bring it with you. Forms will also be available at the clinic.

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Location

Pittsburgh Mercy Pharmacy
249 South 9th Street, First Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Limited free parking is available. Enter the building on the side that faces Mt. Washington. Follow the signs to the Pharmacy.

Note: Pittsburgh Mercy’s COVID-19 South Side Vaccination Clinic is located at the same address as Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center. The site is a few blocks from Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) stops on East Carson Street.

Before You Arrive

  • Read and complete the Pittsburgh Mercy COVID-19 Immunization Registration, Acknowledgement, and Consent Form, located in the section titled Helpful COVID-19 Vaccine Resources. If you need help completing the form or do not have access to a printer, we will give you the form and help you complete it when you arrive for your vaccination.
  • Read about the COVID-19 vaccine, including the Vaccine Information Sheet (sometimes called Vaccine Fact Sheet) and other resources listed in the Helpful COVID-19 Resources section at the bottom of this page.
  • Write down questions you have about your health and the vaccine.
  • Talk with your doctor ahead of time to see if the vaccine is right for you.
  • Plan what you will wear to your appointment. We recommend wearing a short-sleeve shirt and loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
  • Plan how you will get to your appointment.
  • If you have a history of allergies and carry an EpiPen®, please bring it to your appointment. If you forget, it’s OK. We have them at our vaccination sites.
  • Optional: Use an ice pack or a cool pack on your arm for 20 minutes prior to your appointment.

What to Bring With You to Your Appointment

  • Your signed Pittsburgh Mercy COVID-19 Immunization Registration, Acknowledgement, and Consent Form, located in the section titled Helpful COVID-19 Vaccine Resources. (Bring the form to all appointments.) Forms will also be available at the clinic.
  • Your COVID-19 Vaccination Card, the small white card that you received at your first vaccination. If you have lost your card, please let us know when you arrive. We may be able to help you get a new one.
  • Please let your vaccinator know if you have questions.
  • Optional: An ice pack or a cool pack.

What You Can Expect

The vaccination process takes approximately 20 minutes, start to finish. The vaccination itself takes less than 30 seconds. If you have a history of allergies, you may need to stay 15-30 minutes so we can observe you.

  • Our vaccination sites are fully accessible. If driving, limited free parking is available.
  • One of our friendly team members will greet you, welcome you, register you, ask you a few questions, answer your questions, vaccinate you, tell you when to come for back for an additional dose (if needed), and give you a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Card, also known as a “vaccination card” or a “vaccine card.” Keep your vaccination card in a secure place where you keep other important documents. Store away from heat, light, and moisture. Do not laminate your card.
  • Please stay for 15 minutes after you are vaccinated. Note: Persons with a history of severe allergies will be observed for 30 minutes after vaccination. Be sure to tell our staff if you are experiencing any symptoms that seem out of the ordinary to you.
  • Please do not eat or drink until after you leave the building.

After You Leave

  • Optional: Use an ice pack or a cool pack on your arm for 20 minutes.
  • Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area you were vaccinated.
  • Use or exercise your arm frequently.
  • Dress in light, comfortable, and loose-fitting clothes.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Monitor your health.
  • Soreness in the arm in which you were vaccinated is a common side effect.  If the soreness does not improve or increases after 24 hours, call your doctor and ask about taking over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
  • If you have any symptoms that concern you, or if your side effects do not go away within a few days, please let us know and call your doctor.
  • If you develop a tickle or tingling in your throat, hives, rash, feel faint, a racing or pounding heart, or have trouble breathing, do not wait. Seek immediate medical attention. Call your doctor or call 911. Also, call your vaccination provider (if different from your doctor).
  • Store your COVID-19 vaccination card in a clean, dry place and away from heat, light, and moisture. Do not laminate your card.
  • Become a vaccine ambassador.
    • Talk about your vaccination experience with your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and others. Encourage them to get vaccinated and boosted.
    • Follow Pittsburgh Mercy and Trinity Health on social media.
    • Share COVID-19 vaccine facts and trusted resources.

Helpful COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

We put together this list of trusted, helpful resources where you can learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines and more.

Pittsburgh Mercy COVID-19 Immunization Registration, Acknowledgement, & Consent Form

Language Assistance Resources

  • For the Non-English Speaking/English as a Second Language Community

Please use the language assistance tool in the lower right portion of the screen. If you require additional assistance, please contact 1-877-637-2924.

  • For the Hard of Hearing & Deaf Communities

Please contact our Specialized Service Coordination Unit at 412-567-1755. Note: This telephone number is only for use by members of the deaf and hard of hearing communities.

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Other Helpful COVID-19 Resources

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the COVID-19 Vaccines

We know you have questions. We’re listening. We put together this list of Frequently Asked Questions to empower you in your vaccine decision making. If you have questions specific to your health, please discuss with your doctor prior to your vaccination.

What is a vaccine, and how does it work?

Think of a vaccine as a way for your immune system to practice for a virus. Vaccines give the body a preview of one or more features of a virus before you get the actual virus. Due to the vaccine, the immune system develops a memory of how to react and stop the virus once you are exposed to it. The vaccine allows the immune system to produce antibodies that latch onto the spike protein that makes coronaviruses unique. (Coronarviruses got their name because the viruses have protein spikes that look like a crown.) This allows the immune system to quickly recognize the actual coronaviruses and interfere with its ability to multiply. The idea is to stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from getting into cells, replicating itself, and making us sick.

Which COVID-19 vaccine is Pittsburgh Mercy administering?

Pittsburgh Mercy offers the updated bivalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for adults ages 18 years and over.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?

The COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use and approved for use by the FDA are safe and highly effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Stay up to date with the latest safety information.

Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition?

People with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe disease if they get COVID. Learn more about considerations for people with underlying medical conditions. If you have questions specific to your health, please discuss with your health care provider.

I am immunocompromised. Should I receive a COVID-19 vaccine? Is it as effective for immunocompromised people like me?

If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system), you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death. Additionally, your immune response to COVID-19 vaccination may not be as strong as in people who are not immunocompromised. As with vaccines for other diseases, you are protected best when you stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines as described below. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your health care provider and ask if an additional dose (or doses) is right for you.

I live with someone who is immunocompromised. Should I be vaccinated?

Yes. People who live with people who are immunocompromised or have weakened immune systems should get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves as well as others in the household.

I have a history of allergic reactions to vaccines like the flu vaccine. Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

If you have a history of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to vaccines or are allergic to any of the vaccine ingredients, talk with your doctor before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 6 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19. If you have questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccination or any other type of vaccination, talk with your health care professional. Talking to them may be helpful, but is not required in order to be vaccinated.  Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Can my child be vaccinated?

The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination and boosters for everyone ages 6 months and older.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines effective?

The COVID-19 vaccines that have received U.S. Food & Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorizations (FDA EUAs) have high efficacy (effectiveness) rates against severe disease.

What are the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines?

For a full list of ingredients, please refer to each vaccine’s Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers:

What side effects can I expect after I am vaccinated?

You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection against the virus. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. The most common side effects include pain/redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue, muscle/joint aches, and low-grade fever. The side effects respond well to over-the-counter acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen (such as Advil). In most cases, discomfort from fever or pain is normal. Side effects may be more pronounced after the second dose of the vaccine. Contact your doctor or health care provider:

  • If the redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours
  • If your side effects concern you or do not seem to be going away after a few days.

Important: Unless directed otherwise by your primary care provider, do not take over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, or antihistamines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent vaccine-related side effects. It is not known how these medications might affect how well the vaccine works. If you take these medications regularly for other reasons, you should keep taking them before you get vaccinated.

If I have a reaction after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, what should I do?

Serious problems from vaccination – whether the COVID-19 vaccine or another type of vaccine – are rare but can happen. When you get a COVID-19 vaccine, you will be monitored for 15 minutes after your appointment (30 minutes if you have a history of severe allergies). If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after you leave the vaccination clinic, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and rare severe allergic reactions.

How do I report vaccine side effects?

Please report any side effects that seem unusual or concerning to you to your doctor, to your vaccination site, and to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?

No. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology. The vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. mRNA technology has been used in science for many years. mRNA vaccines do not affect or interact with our genetic makeup (DNA) in any way.

Someone I know tested positive for COVID-19 a few days after getting the vaccine. How is that possible?

You cannot contract COVID-19 from the vaccine. It takes at least two weeks for your body to develop immunity after getting the vaccine. The person may have been infected with the virus but not shown symptoms, or they could have contracted the virus a few days before their body developed immunity in response to the vaccine. In rare instances, “breakthrough” COVID-19 cases have been reported post-vaccination. In these instances, the symptoms have been milder. All of the COVID-19 vaccines in use are highly effective. None are 100% effective.

How were the vaccines produced so fast?

Under normal circumstances, from pre-clinical trial testing to distribution, a vaccine takes roughly 72 months, or 6 years, to develop. Under the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed (OWS) initiative, the timeline to develop a COVID-19 vaccine was reduced to only 14 months. According to the CDC, OWS provided the resources and funding needed from the federal government to create highly coordinated efforts, which accelerated development while maintaining standards for safety. The vaccines were developed in response to worldwide demand and the urgent need to stop this pandemic. The vaccines that are in use went through rigorous scientific review process. No steps were skipped or missed during the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization (FDA EUA) process. The COVID-19 vaccines are among the most widely studied vaccines in U.S. history.

Do I need more than one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?

The CDC recommends staying up to date with all of the recommended COVID-19 vaccines. Staying up to date ensures optimal protection from severe disease from COVID-19. Adults ages 65 years and over and people who have underlying conditions or are immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) should speak with their health care provider about additional doses.

Can I get the vaccine if I am not feeling well?

If you are not feeling well, it is recommended that you wait until you feel better to get the vaccine. If you are unsure, contact your health care provider.

I had COVID-19 previously. Do I need to be vaccinated?

Yes. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.

What is the timing for my next dose?

The timing between of your next dose depends on your age, which vaccine you received, and when you received your last dose. The CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest data.

Do I need an appointment?

No, you do not need an appointment.

When am I considered “up to date” with my vaccinations?

The CDC says you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and got the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC. Vaccine recommendations are based on your age, the vaccine you first received, and the time since your last dose. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised (have weakened immune systems) have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.

How long does the COVID-19 vaccine protect for?

It is not yet known long the vaccine protects against the virus. Studies are ongoing. Determination will be made by the CDC and FDA based on any concern over waning immunity and need for additional protection against new variants that might develop.

What is herd immunity?

Herd immunity is when enough of a population has immunity against a disease that it can no longer spread. The herd immunity threshold for coronavirus is not known. However, it is thought to be between 60 and 80% of the population. Herd immunity can be reached through vaccine immunization or through natural infection.

Can I get my COVID-19 vaccination at the same time as another vaccination?

Yes. You may receive the COVID-19 vaccination at the same time as other vaccines, provided they are not given in the same arm. If you receive an Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) vaccine, the CDC recommends you wait at least 4 weeks before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

I’ve already had and have recovered from COVID-19. Do I need to be vaccinated?

Even if you have had COVID-19, the CDC recommends you be vaccinated. That is because natural immunity wanes over time. CDC recommends you wait 90 days after having COVID to get vaccinated.

If I already had COVID-19, will I have a strong reaction to the vaccine?

There is no connection between those who have had strong immune system response to the vaccine and those who have had the virus.

Will the vaccine help the long-term effects of someone who has had COVID-19, but is not vaccinated?

The vaccine will protect the person who recovered from COVID-19 from getting severely sick again.

Will I have to pay for the vaccine?

For now, the federal government is providing the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States. This could change in the future.

Is it possible for the COVID-19 vaccine to give me COVID-19?

No, the COVID-19 vaccine cannot give you COVID-19.

Will getting a COVID-19 vaccine cause me to test positive on COVID-19 viral tests?

Vaccines currently in use in the U.S. will not cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response, which is the goal of vaccination, you will likely test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate if you have had a previous infection or that you have been vaccinated successfully and that you have may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts continue to look at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody test results and how long immunity lasts after vaccination.

I’ve already had a flu shot. Will it also protect me from getting COVID-19?

No. A flu vaccine will not protect you from getting COVID-19, but it can protect you from getting influenza (the flu) at the same time as COVID-19. This can keep you from having more severe illness. The COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine are both important, safe, and effective.

What can I do to protect myself before and after getting the vaccine?

  • If you are sick, stay home and wear a well-fitted mask that covers your nose and mouth.
  • Avoid large crowds, large gatherings, and unnecessary travel.
  • Wash your hands often. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.
  • If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, get tested.

 

For more FAQs and other helpful information, please visit the Allegheny County Health Department, Pennsylvania Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) websites.

Last Updated: May 17, 2023

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