Coronavirus (COVID-19)

FAQs

1. Who should get the 2023-24 COVID-19 Vaccine? 

   Everyone 5  years and older is recommended to receive one dose of an updated 2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination history.  Children aged 6 months–4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine. You can get a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine as long as it’s been at least two months since your most recent dose of a previous COVID-19 vaccine. If you’ve never been vaccinated against COVID-19, you can start with an updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.

2. Are COVID-19 vaccines available for free to the public at LCDHE?

   The COVID-19 vaccines are no longer free to the public at LCDHE. Vaccines at LCDHE are available at low to no cost to those who meet the following eligibility requirements:

   • Eligible children 18 years of age and younger:
     • Children who have Medicaid,
     • Children who are uninsured or underinsured
     • Children who are Alaska Native, or American Indian
   • Eligible adults 19 years of age and older (limited quantities):
     • Adults with Medicaid
     • Adults who are uninsured or underinsured

3. Which COVID-19 vaccines does Larimer County offer?

   Vaccine availability varies by location:
   Fort Collins Clinic:

   • Pfizer (all ages)
   • Moderna (all ages)

   Estes Park Clinic:

   • Moderna (all ages)

   Loveland Clinic:

   • Moderna (all ages)

4. Can the public pay out-of-pocket for COVID-19 vaccines at LCDHE?

   Yes, the public can pay out-of-pocket for COVID-19 vaccines. Payment is due at time of service. We can provide an Electronic SuperBill (ESB) if patients want to submit for reimbursement to their private insurance but we cannot guarantee reimbursement. The price list is provided below: 

   COVID-19 Vaccines	Price per dose
   Moderna Adults 12+ years	$167
   Moderna Pediatric 6 months - 11 years	$165
   Pfizer Adults 12+ years	$182
   Pfizer Pediatric 5 years - 11 years	$119
   Pfizer Pediatric 6 months - 5 years	$94

5. Does LCDHE accept private insurance for COVID-19 vaccines?

    LCDHE does not bill private insurance for any clinical services provided at the health department.
    

6. My child didn't finish the original vaccine series. Now what do we do?

   Knowing how many doses of the COVID-19 vaccine someone needs is usually based on age, current vaccination status, and other health factors. 

   Review the CDC guidance for staying up to date with COVID-19 Vaccines for details about completing your child's vaccination series or speak to your child's healthcare provider. 

7. I was around someone who said they have COVID. Was I exposed? What should I do?

   Cases are considered infectious for the 2 days prior to the start of their symptoms or positive test collection if asymptomatic [day 0] and for 10 full days after.

   The following situations are considered an exposure:
   -Contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 mins in 24 hours or other high risk activity), regardless of mask usage, with someone who is positive or presumed to be positive in the 2 days prior to their symptoms starting or positive test if asymptomatic (day 0) and the 5 days after.
   - Contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 mins in 24 hours or other high risk activity) with someone who is positive or presumed to be positive on days 6-10 after their symptoms starting or positive test if asymptomatic (day 0) and they were unmasked.

   
   Take precautions including masking for 10 days while indoors and around others following your date of last exposure (day 0).

    

8. I previously received COVID-19 and Flu vaccines in my home from LCDHE. Can I schedule this again?

   We do have limited  homebound services:

   • COVID-19 vaccines are no longer free to the public at LCDHE. LCDHE is able to provide COVID-19 (and flu in combination with COVID-19, not as a stand-alone) in the home if you meet the following eligibility requirements:
     • You are homebound and unable to leave the home without considerable or taxing effort and
     • You are an adult 19 years of age and older on Medicaid, uninsured or underinsured
   • Appointments are required. Appointment and vaccine availability is limited.

9. What is new about the updated COVID-19 vaccine?

   Pfizer: The new Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is made in the same way as the previous Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines but it encodes the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant lineage XBB.1.5 (Omicron XBB.1.5) which is the most common current COVID-19 variant at this time.

   Moderna: The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is made in the same way as the previous Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines but it encodes the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant lineage XBB.1.5 (Omicron XBB.1.5) which is the most common current COVID-19 variant at this time.

10. How can I get my COVID-19 Vaccine Records?

    There are many ways to get documentation of your COVID-19 vaccine record. 

    • If you were vaccinated in Colorado, your COVID-19 vaccine record is likely available in the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS). You can access your Colorado immunization record through the CIIS public portal.

    • If your COVID-19 record is in CIIS, you can get an electronic version of your vaccine card via the myColorado app if you have a state-issued ID card or driver’s license.

    • You can also request an official copy of your CIIS record for yourself or your minor child by completing this form. The records can be emailed via encrypted email as a PDF attachment, mailed, or picked up at our Fort Collins office.

    • To request a replacement of your damaged or lost COVID-19 vaccine card, please complete this form. To replace your card, we will need to verify your immunization record in our record system or in the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS). Please be sure that your information is entered accurately so that we can process your request.

    • Due to high demand, replacement cards may take up to 2 weeks to be available after a request is submitted.

    • If your vaccine record is inaccurate, contact the vaccine provider you were vaccinated by first. They are in the best position to correct your record. If you are unable to contact the vaccine provider who vaccinated you, contact CIIS at cdphe.ciis@state.co.us or by calling 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).

11. How many doses of the new vaccine do I need? 

    Knowing how many doses of the COVID-19 vaccine someone needs is usually based on age, current vaccination status, and other health factors.

    Review the CDC guidance for staying up to date with COVID-19 Vaccines or speak to your healthcare provider for detailed recommendations. 

12. What about natural immunity? If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID vaccine? 

    There is widespread confusion around natural immunity and whether someone who has already been infected with COVID-19 should still be vaccinated. Natural immunity, while robust, is far more unpredictable and dangerous to acquire than vaccine immunity. The only way to gain natural immunity is by contracting COVID-19, which means risking serious illness, long-term effects, and death. Moreover, not everyone who has previously had COVID-19 develops enough antibodies to fight reinfection. One recent study found that vaccination after a previous infection decreases reinfection risk. Yes, individuals should receive a COVID vaccine even if they have had COVID-19. 

    Natural immunity from having COVID varies from person to person and we know that for many people, a vaccine will produce a more effective immune response than prior infection. Asymptomatic infections in particular may not produce long-lasting immune response. We also know that both vaccination and prior infection combined produce the most effective and strongest immune response. 

    Because the risks of contracting COVID are persistent, unpredictable, and substantial, the vaccine is the safest option for protection from COVID-19. 

    Those who are interested in additional data about reinfection may also refer to the following resources: 

    • Recurrent COVID-19 including evidence of reinfection and enhanced severity in thirty Brazilian healthcare workers
    • Confirmed reinfection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) variant VOC-202012/01
    • Symptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) reinfection by a phylogenetically distinct strain
    • SARS-CoV-2 sequence characteristics of COVID-19 persistence and reinfection
    • SARS CoV-2 immunity and reinfection

13. Why should people wear masks? 

    1. Masks work to reduce transmission of COVID-19 by limiting the dispersal of particles that can carry the virus when we speak, breath, sing, or yell. Mask wearing and vaccination are two of the best tools available to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
       Those interested in learning more about the effectiveness of masks and mask wearing to reduce COVID transmission may refer to the following resources: 

    • CDC Science Brief providing a summary and references to 15 sources on masking efficacy.
    • Cochrane Review examining interventions in schools, including masking. 

    Additional Studies:

    • Abaluck, J. et al. Innovations for Poverty Action Working Paper https://www.poverty-action.org/publication/impact-community-masking-covid-19-cluster-randomized-trial-bangladesh (2021).
    • Bundgaard H, Bundgaard JS, Raaschou-Pedersen DET, et al. Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers : A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Intern Med. Nov 18 2020; doi:10.7326/M20-6817
    • Budzyn SE, Panaggio MJ, Parks SE, Papazian M, Magid J, Eng M, Barrios LC. Pediatric COVID-19 cases in counties with and without school mask requirements — United States, July 1–September 4, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021; 70(39);1377–1378.
    • Karaivanov A., Lu S.E., Shigeoka H., Chen C., Pamplona S. Face Masks, Public Policies And Slowing The Spread Of Covid-19: Evidence from Canada. 2020. Working Paper 27891. http://www.nber.org/papers/w27891
    • Mitze T., Kosfeld R., Rode J., Wälde K. Face Masks Considerably Reduce COVID-19 Cases in Germany: A Synthetic Control Method Approach. 2020. ISSN: 2365-9793, DP No. 13319. https://docs.iza.org/dp13319.pdf
    • Leung NHL, Chu DKW, Shiu EYC, et al. Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nature medicine. Apr 03 2020;26(5):676-680. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0843-2
    • Adenaiye OO, Lai J, de Mesquita PJB, et al. Infectious SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled aerosols and efficacy of masks during early mild infection. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;doi:10.1093/cid/ciab797
    • Viola I.M., Peterson B., Pisetta G., et al. Face coverings, aerosol dispersion and mitigation of virus transmission risk. 2020.
    • Hatzius J, Struyven D, Rosenberg I. Face Masks and GDP. Updated June 29, 2020. Accessed July 8, 2020. https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/pages/face-masks-and-gdp.html
    • Rader B, White LF, Burns MR, et al. Mask-wearing and control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the USA: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet Digital Health. 2021/01/19/ 2021

14. I was diagnosed with COVID-19. How long am I infectious to others?

    Cases are considered infectious during the 2 days prior to the start of their symptoms or positive test collection if asymptomatic [day 0] and for 10 full days after.

15. At the end of my isolation should I get another test to make sure that I don’t have COVID-19 anymore before going back to work?

    You do not need to be retested to leave isolation and return to school or work after having COVID-19. As long as you meet the criteria listed below you may leave isolation:

    • At least 5 days since symptoms started OR 5 days from a positive test if you have no symptoms
    • Symptoms are improving
    • Fever-free for 24-hours without using fever-reducing medicines (such as Ibuprofen)

    Some symptoms may linger for a few days or weeks. So long as your symptoms are improving and you meet the other criteria, you may leave isolation.

    It is possible to test positive for COVID-19 for up to 90 days after recovering, even though that person is no longer able to spread the virus to others. Therefore, testing is not recommended or needed to allow someone to return to work or school after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

16. How do I know if I was exposed?

    Please visit the CDC webpage on Understanding Exposure Risk. This webpage has the most up to date information on exposure risks.

17. If my child or another household member is following post exposure precautions, does everyone in the house have to follow these precautions?

    No. Only the person who was exposed to someone with COVID-19 needs to follow these precautions. If the person who was exposed were to test positive, the other household members should follow the post-exposure precautions. It's important for the person with the exposure remain separated from other household members to the greatest extent possible.

18. My employee has developed symptoms and/or tested positive but is up to date on their vaccinations. Do they have to isolate?

    It is still possible to develop a COVID-19 infection even if the individual has been fully vaccinated. Anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or has tested positive needs to isolate regardless of their vaccination status.

19. I feel really anxious/depressed/lonely/scared about being alone for so long. What if I lose my job, or someone else in my family gets sick?

    Being sick with or exposed to COVID may cause many different and strong emotions that may feel hard to manage on your own. 

    If you are experiencing a crisis:

    Call the SummitStone Crisis Center, 24/7/365 at 970-494-4200 or Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255 (or text “TALK” to 38255)'

    Additional Resources:

    I Matter Colorado - The I Matter program can connect you with a therapist for up to 6 free virtual counseling sessions (some in-person appointments available, too) that are completely confidential.

20. Additional FAQs

    For additional FAQs, please visit the Colorado Health Department website.