Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has announced that patients can now schedule appointments to receive the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines have been formulated to be more effective against the recent circulating variants of the virus.
LVHN’s physician group, LVPG, is expecting vaccine shipments from Pfizer-BioNTech to arrive next week. Patients can contact their doctor’s office directly or send a message through the MyLVHN patient portal to express their interest in receiving the new COVID vaccine.
Appointments for COVID vaccine shots at LVPG practices are by appointment only. LVHN no longer operates large COVID-19 shot clinics as it did at the beginning of the pandemic.
LVHN will only offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at its practices, while both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will be available at retail pharmacies in the region. Patients may receive either vaccine, regardless of their previous vaccination history.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness in the fall and winter. The vaccine is intended to reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death following infection with COVID. Recent data from the CDC also suggests that the COVID vaccine lowers the likelihood of developing long COVID-19.
The cost of the vaccine will be covered by insurance, although an administration fee may apply in some cases. LVHN advises people to check with their insurance carrier for coverage information. The CDC has a Bridge Access Program for uninsured and underinsured adults.
The newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines are designed to provide more focused protection against newer strains of the virus, including XBB.1.5, a descendent of the omicron variant.
LVHN also expects to have COVID vaccines available soon at its ExpressCARE locations and will announce the availability at a later date.
Source: LVHN (no URL provided)
