In December, the Food and Drug Administration issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. These vaccines are now being administered, and there are several other vaccines that are being evaluated in clinical trials.
On this page, you can find links to information about COVID-19 vaccines, related news, and what WPS is doing to help our customers through the vaccination process.
Note: The content below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Immunizations are an essential and highly effective way to prevent infectious disease in large populations. WPS will cover immunizations as directed.
Under the CARES Act passed in November 2020, individuals with health coverage can get COVID-19 vaccine shots without any cost sharing. That means you can get immunized at no cost! Recipients of Medicare can get the vaccine at no charge. The CARES Act does not apply to short-term health plans, so if you have this type of plan, your vaccine may not be covered. Check with your health insurer for details.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaccine is generally safe. Although there are exceptions, especially for those with certain allergies, the vaccines have undergone rigorous safety testing. Check with your physician to see if the vaccine is safe for you.
The CDC has more information about the vaccination approval process and ongoing safety monitoring. The CDC also has more about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines on its Vaccinate with Confidence page.
The CDC is providing priority recommendations for administering the vaccine, including to those who are at increased risk.
As vaccine availability increases, recommendations will expand to include more groups. Your local health officials and providers will give updates about eligibility.
Probably not, although it could depend on your location and the availability of the vaccines.
Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two immunizations that are a few weeks apart. The CDC recommends you schedule both rounds at the same time.
Vaccines can take up to several weeks after the second dose to provide protection, so be sure to take precautions after getting immunized. The duration of the protection is unknown.
There can be, but most are mild. The most common are fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, and pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. A COVID-19 vaccination cannot give you the coronavirus.
The CDC recommends that you continue to follow its recommended guidelines:
Unfortunately, scammers have been trying to exploit people during the pandemic. The Medicare website has more information about vaccine-related scams, and the Federal Trade Commission has information about how to protect yourself from other COVID-19 scams.
Note: WPS Medicare supplement customers have access to ScamAssist™ Fraud Review Service* that may help prevent them from being victimized.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know
*Fraud review service is not a part of the insurance policy and enrollment is subject to contract renewal. The service provider is not responsible or liable for the availability, safety, accuracy, or effectiveness of the techniques, products, tools, or resources used by the service provider in its ScamAssist™ service and your access and use of ScamAssist™ is entirely at your own risk.
