Recipient Questions

Anyone 6 months or older can get a COVID-19 vaccine.

• The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has received full FDA approval for use in individuals 16 and older and has been granted emergency use authorization for those 6 months to 15 years old.
• The Moderna vaccine has received full FDA approval for use in individuals 18 and older and emergency use authorization for those 6 months to 17 years old.
• The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization for those 18 years of age and older. 

Yes. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. Individuals with questions, should speak with their doctor about booster doses. 

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vaccine Finder at https://www.vaccines.gov and click on “Find COVID-19 Vaccines”. Check the vaccine(s) you are interested in and enter your zip code. Find a location near you, then call or visit their website to make an appointment.

For pediatric vaccine: 

Parents or guardians should first ask their child’s pediatrician if they are administering COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5. To find other locations in New Hampshire offering vaccines for children ages 6 months to 4 years old and for children ages 5 to 11 years old, go to vaccines.nh.gov.

Yes. If you wish to choose a specific vaccine, visit NH’s vaccine finder at vaccines.nh.gov. When you click, “Find COVID-19 Vaccines”, you can choose a specific brand of vaccine in the area of your choice.

The new COVID-19 vaccines are safe and have been subject to the same rigorous scientific studies as other vaccines. The vaccines have undergone scientific review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC science and medical expert advisory committees to ensure that these vaccines are both safe and effective. The vaccine trials have been held to the same scientific standards as other vaccines that have been licensed for use and the FDA has not lowered their standards for these vaccines.

While experts continue to gather data on the long-term protection and outcomes after vaccination, the vaccines have been appropriately studied to ensure they are effective and safe to use now and the safety of the vaccines will continue to be monitored as they are used to vaccinate the public.

The majority of side-effects reported from the vaccine includes pain around the injection site, redness or swelling. Some people report other side effects that are normal signs your body is building protection against COVID-19. These include tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea and should not last more than a couple days.

Millions of people have received COVID-19 vaccines, and no long-term side effects have been detected. There have been very rare instances where individuals had inflammation (irritation) of the heart or the heart’s outer lining (myocarditis or pericarditis) after vaccination. However, the risk of getting myocarditis or pericarditis is greater for those who are not vaccinated because COVID-19 itself can cause myocarditis and pericarditis. Scientists and researchers will continue to actively monitor the vaccines for any long-term safety concerns.

Yes.

While having had COVID-19 builds some immunity, the vaccines provides greater immunity and protection from reinfection. We know that people who have been previously infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can be infected again. Previously infected persons receive additional protection from getting vaccinated. Vaccination should be given after a person recovers from COVID-19 (i.e., meets criteria for discontinuing isolation), but otherwise there is no minimum interval recommended between infection and vaccination. Also, if someone gets one dose of a 2-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) and then develops COVID-19 infection before their second dose, that person should still get the second dose of the vaccine at the appropriate time once they have met criteria for discontinuing isolation; if a person misses their scheduled second dose because they are on isolation (or quarantine), they should get the dose as soon as possible after coming off isolation (or quarantine).

All organizations participating in the CDC COVID-19 vaccination program must administer the vaccine at no cost to the recipient. If you have public or private insurance, the vaccine provider can bill your insurance for a vaccine administration fee but you will not be charged any out-of-pocket costs. For more information, go to https://www.nh.gov/insurance/covid-19/index.htm.

The updated (bivalent) boosters are recommended to help protect against the Omicron variant and the original strain of COVID-19.

Moderna:

• Moderna’s updated booster is for ages 6 months to 17 years, 2 months after completing the 2-dose Moderna primary series.  

Pfizer: 

• Pfizer’s updated booster is for children 5 years and older, 2 months after their last primary series dose or previous booster.
• Children ages 6 months to 4 years will get the updated booster as the 3rd dose of the Pfizer 3-dose primary series.
• Children ages 6 months to 4 years who completed the Pfizer primary series with 3 doses of the original vaccine are eligible for an updated booster dose.

To find out where you can get a booster dose, contact your healthcare provider, or go to https://www.vaccines.gov/.

To request a replacement CDC vaccine card, please fill out and notarize the Request for Immunization/Vaccination Record form and mail the completed form to the address below. Please mention if you are looking for CDC Vaccine Card only on the Request for Immunization/Vaccination Record. Please allow for 7-14 business days to receive your new card. If your vaccination record is not yet registered with the state, you may be asked for additional documentation which will cause a delay in receiving new vaccination cards.

Yes. Go to vaccines.nh.gov and select “download a copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record”. Follow the instructions to download a copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record through the NHIIS portal.

The NHIIS portal represents only data reported and entered into the NHIIS by the medical provider who administered your COVID-19 vaccine. If you cannot access your record through the NHIIS portal, please call (603) 271-0301 for further assistance.

Please note: If you previously opted out of NHIIS, you will not be able to use the patient portal because your information was not recorded in NHIIS. If you would like to change your opt-out status to access your immunization information through the portal, please contact your primary provider to request to change your opt-out status. If you don’t have a primary care provider, call (603) 271-0301 for assistance.

To request a correction to your record including a name change or correction to vaccination dates, please complete the Correction to Immunization/Vaccination Record form and use the open box provided on the form to list specific corrections needed.

The form and copies of supporting documents should be mailed to 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301 or send via secured fax to (603) 696-3266. If you need further assistance on COVID-19 vaccine documentation, please call (603) 271-0301.

Supporting Documents

1. Proof of Identity (for all requests): copy of your photo ID card including passport, state ID card or Driver License
2. Other supporting documents depending on correction needed:
   1. If you are requesting to correct your vaccination (Send copies only):  CDC Vaccination card, Official record from provider/pharmacy containing vaccine lot #, Administration date, clinic location or address, recipient full name and DOB.
   2. If you are requesting to change your legal name (Send copies only): Legal Court documentation or divorce decree or marriage certificate
   3. If you are requesting for your child’s record correction (Send copies only): Birth Certificate or Guardianship document

If you wish to opt-out of sharing your immunization records with NHIIS, then please complete the Choose not to Participate in the New Hampshire Immunization Registry (Opt-Out) form and give it to your current Primary Care Provider (PCP). 

Remember, if you opt out of sharing your immunization records with NHIIS, you will unable to retrieve your immunization records from the online patient portal. 
 

• Download the Withdraw & Remove Information from the New Hampshire Immunization Registry form by clicking on the form name.
• Fill up the details and give it to your current Primary Care Provider (PCP). Your PCP will complete the form, sign it and fax the form to the NHIIS.
• If you don’t have a current PCP, your previous PCP can also fill up the form and send it to NHIIS.
• Please note, you must sign the Choose not to Participate in the New Hampshire Immunization Registry (Opt-Out) form and give it to your PCP to prevent any future information coming to NHIIS. Please have a discussion with your PCP on the benefits of sharing data with NHIIS. Additionally, you will unable to retrieve your immunization record from the patient portal if you withdraw your immunization data with NHIIS.

NH does not currently use the SMART Health Card or other QR codes for proof of vaccination. You should use either your CDC vaccination card or download your vaccine record from vaccines.nh.gov.

Your health care provider is your best source of information related to your own health concerns. If you have more general questions, you can call 2-1-1. COVID-19 specific call-takers are available Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.