Geisinger expanding COVID vaccine availability (2024)

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People over 65, those with high-risk medical conditions can schedule online with MyGeisinger

Note: COVID-19 vaccine appointments are temporarily unavailable. If no appointments appear in MyGeisinger, there are currently none available. But check back often in MyGeisinger — we will open additional appointment slots as supplies and logistics allow.


DANVILLE, Pa.
– Geisinger is expanding the availability of COVID-19 vaccines to those who qualify as part of the state’s updated Phase 1A groups. Vaccine appointments are available at the health system’s community-based vaccine centers throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Appointments are required to receive the vaccine, and can be made online using MyGeisinger. A questionnaire must be completed prior to scheduling to ensure eligibility and for health screening purposes. Those receiving the vaccine must bring to their appointments identification that verifies your eligibility as part of the state’s Phase 1A groups (certificate, license etc.) and a valid driver’s license.

If you’ve been cared for by Geisinger or have Geisinger Health Plan insurance, but don’t have a MyGeisinger account, you can create one online. Those who haven’t been cared for by Geisinger and don’t have Geisinger Health Plan insurance or anyone under the age of 18 can call 570-284-3657 for help setting up an account.

In alignment with federal and state guidelines and as supplies, staffing and logistics allow, COVID vaccines will now also be available to those who qualify as part of the state’s Phase 1A groups.

Phase 1A groups now include:

  • Healthcare workers
  • People age 65 and older
  • People age 16–64 with high-risk medical conditions including:
  • Cancer
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD
  • Down syndrome
  • Heart conditions (e.g., heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy)
  • Weakened immune system (from solid organ/blood/bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids or other immunity-weakening medicines)
  • Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of ≥30 kg/m2) or severe obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m2)
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Smoking
  • Type 2 diabetes

Geisinger is administering the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna COVID vaccines. Due to the vaccine distribution process, it isn’t possible to select the vaccine you receive when scheduling your appointment. It’s important to remember that two doses of the vaccine are required, so it’s encouraged to consider both doses when scheduling. The second dose needs to be given between 26 and 30 days after the first. Scheduling for your second dose occurs at the time you receive the first dose at the vaccine center.

It’s required to receive both vaccine doses at the same location. Receiving that second dose is a critical step in the COVID vaccination process to trigger the immune response needed to develop an immunity level against COVID-19.

Vaccines also remain available to Geisinger staff and those in the state’s Tier 1A phase. To date, Geisinger has provided over 25,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Even as the vaccine becomes more available in our communities, preventive measures to help stop the spread of the virus continue to be important. Everyone, including those who receive the vaccine, should continue to properly wear a mask, avoid group gatherings, maintain physical distancing and practice proper handwashing.

For answers to questions about the vaccine, visit the Geisinger COVID-19 vaccine resources center at geisinger.org/COVIDvax.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 126 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $15 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Geisinger expanding COVID vaccine availability (1)

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Geisinger expanding COVID vaccine availability (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take for a vaccine to become available? ›

A typical vaccine development timeline takes 5 to 10 years, and sometimes longer, to assess whether the vaccine is safe and efficacious in clinical trials, complete the regulatory approval processes, and manufacture sufficient quantity of vaccine doses for widespread distribution.

What is the best time of day to get the COVID vaccine? ›

The research suggests that vaccines given around the middle of the day may prevent more infections than those given at other times. A study from Washington University School of Medicine in St.

Does Geisinger have a long COVID clinic? ›

The Post-COVID Recovery Clinic at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville offers specialty care to treat symptoms of long COVID. No referral is necessary, but patients are advised to talk to their primary care provider first. Visit geisinger.org/longhaul2 or call 570-763-8692 to learn more.

Is COVID-19 vaccination up to date CDC? ›

CDC recommends the 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines—Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax—to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. Everyone aged 5 years and older ‡ should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.

Which vaccines last a lifetime? ›

Some viruses are relatively huge while others are tiny in comparison, some use RNA while others use DNA—they are very, very different organisms.” Yancey said that for vaccines that “last a lifetime,” which include vaccines for measles or hepatitis B, the viruses themselves tend to be uniform when they replicate.

What are three diseases which vaccines can prevent? ›

  • Chickenpox (Varicella)
  • Diphtheria.
  • Flu (Influenza)
  • Hepatitis A.
  • Hepatitis B.
  • Hib.
  • HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
  • Measles.

Is Geisinger only in Pennsylvania? ›

Geisinger: A network of care

Our health plan serves more than 500,000 residents throughout central, south-central and northeast Pennsylvania, and works with affiliates in Delaware and Maine.

Was Geisinger hacked? ›

Pennsylvania healthcare provider Geisinger is facing a class action lawsuit after a former Nuance employee accessed the personal information of more than 1.2 million individuals in November 2023.

Can COVID-19 stay in your body for months? ›

Generally, people are no longer contagious about 10 days after symptoms first develop. COVID vaccination appears to significantly shorten infection times along with the length of time a person is contagious. In rare cases, COVID infections can persist for weeks or even months.

When will the latest COVID vaccine be available? ›

The new 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines will come out in August and September, and health experts hope a much higher percentage of Americans will decide to get an annual COVID-19 vaccine this fall and winter than did last year since vaccines protect well against hospitalization and death.

How long does the COVID vaccine last? ›

How long does the COVID vaccine last? Studies suggest COVID vaccines are most effective in the first few months following your shot. That's why when health experts recommend boosters or updated doses, they're usually given three to four months after your last COVID shot.

What are the side effects of the COVID booster 2024? ›

More common
  • Chills.
  • difficulty in moving.
  • headache.
  • joint pain.
  • muscle aches, cramps, pains, or stiffness.
  • nausea.
  • swollen joints.
  • unusual tiredness or weakness.
May 1, 2024

How long did it take to release COVID vaccines? ›

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was first identified in December 2019. By December 11, 2020 , the Pfizer vaccine became the first to receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Creating a vaccine in under 1 year is no small feat.

How does a vaccine get approved? ›

The FDA's expert investigators inspect manufacturing facilities to carefully examine and evaluate the process used to make the vaccine to determine compliance with FDA's requirements. Manufacturing facilities are inspected before a vaccine can be approved, and then on a routine basis following approval.

What is the process of vaccine production? ›

Process of vaccine manufacture has the following steps: Inactivation – This involves making of the antigen preparation. Purification – The isolated antigen is purified. Formulation – The purified antigen is combined with adjuvants, stabilizers and preservatives to form the final vaccine preparation.

How long do vaccines stay in your body? ›

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work by introducing mRNA (messenger RNA) into your muscle cells. The cells make copies of the spike protein and the mRNA is quickly degraded (within a few days).

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