NNPS COVID-19 Vaccination Readiness & FAQ

There are two vaccines that have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for EUA, and others are expected to follow shortly. The FDA has a review process to issue emergency use authorizations before vaccines are authorized for use by the general public. You can watch a video describing the emergency use authorization. The CDC website is the best resource for COVID-19 vaccine information.

The first doses of the vaccine are already in use. Healthcare providers, Long Term and Residential Care are among the first to get the vaccine.

Governor Northam has announced the priority populations to receive vaccinations, based in part on guidance from the CDC and recommendations from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices:

• Phase 1A of the vaccination timeline includes health care personnel and residents in long-term care facilities. School nurses are included in this phase; school nurses who signed up to receive the vaccine received their first vaccination on January 13.
• Phase 1B includes PK-12 teachers and all school division staff; child care staff; frontline essential workers (first responders; food and grocery, manufacturing, transit and postal workers); adults 65 and over; and people aged 16 through 64 years with an underlying medical condition that increases their risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
• Phase 1C includes other essential workers.

According to the VDH website, the Peninsula District is currently in the 1A vaccination phase. View more information about Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination timeline.

NNPS is working with the City of Newport News, CNU and Riverside Health System to host vaccination clinics in the coming weeks. More information is forthcoming.

Based on Phase 3 trials, both Pfizer and Moderna have reported positive safety outcomes. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials have reported side effects typical of vaccines, such as fatigue, headache and mild injection site pain. The FDA has reinforced that no safety precautions or criteria have been compromised, no steps have been skipped and the vaccine is as safe as possible. More information is available on the CDC website.

Both Moderna and Pfizer have reported efficacy rates at ~95% for preventing serious COVID-19 disease, consistent across age, gender, race and ethnicity demographics.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses. The doses are separated by 28 days for the Moderna and 21 days for the Pfizer vaccine.

The CDC states that it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. This means it is possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

The initial supply of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will not be enough to vaccinate everyone in the U.S. Distribution is prioritized for those most in need until manufacturing capabilities increase and additional manufacturer vaccines are approved to meet the demand of the entire population. The vaccine supply should continually increase in the weeks and months to follow.

Both vaccines are administered by a shot in the muscle of the upper arm.

No, you are not required to receive the vaccine as a NNPS employee. While we encourage all eligible employees to get vaccinated, it is not mandatory.

Your employment with NNPS will not be impacted if you choose not to take the vaccine. You are expected to continue working as directed by your supervisor and follow all of the appropriate mitigation strategies.

Yes, all NNPS employees are eligible to receive the vaccine when it is available.

Employees who are working virtually because their physician has indicated that they cannot work in person due to a health condition will continue to work virtually.

According to the CDC, people with underlying medical conditions can receive the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines provided they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Learn more about vaccination considerations for persons with underlying medical conditions. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.

NNPS will continue to follow all CDC and VDH protocols. If you contract the virus, you must report your positive test result to your immediate supervisor right away and you will be required to isolate as advised by the NNPS COVID-19 Response Team and follow the advice of your medical provider.

While NNPS encourages all eligible employees to receive the vaccine, every employee will still be required to follow the safety protocols as established by NNPS, the Governor’s Executive Orders and the CDC including face coverings, social distancing and enhanced personal hygiene. According to the CDC, while the vaccine is ~95% effective in preventing COVID-19, the vaccinated individual could still carry and transmit the disease to others. Continuing to follow safety protocols is a must to prevent the spread of this virus.