How Soon After the COVID-19 Vaccine Can Grandparents Visit Their Grandchildren?

Many of our patients at Health Services of North Texas (HSNT) are interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Our dedicated team of board-certified physicians and medical professionals at HSNT understand why you may have questions about getting the COVID vaccine if you have already had COVID-19. Many of our patients are also concerned about the COVID vaccine side effects. While we do not administer the COVID vaccine at any of our six locations, we do offer COVID-19 testing by appointment only. We do believe it’s important for our patients to be vaccinated.

Do I qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas?

The state and federal government continue to expand the eligibility guidelines for getting vaccinated. At the time of this blog (May 2021), all adults over age 16 qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine in Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX. The Texas Department of State Health Services has a website that allows qualified individuals to register for their COVID-19 vaccine appointment at public health providers in their area. Currently, HSNT is providing COVID tests to patients with COVID-19 symptoms during sick visits only by appointment. No walk-in visits are welcome at this time.

Should I get the COVID vaccine if I already had COVID-19?

Yes, those who have previously tested positive for COVID and/or have COVID-19 antibodies are still strongly encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine. While having COVID does provide some level of immunity against the virus, scientists don’t know how long that immunity lasts or how reliable it is. To best protect yourself against COVID-19 variants and to protect those around you, it is important to receive the COVID vaccine, even if you already had COVID-19.

Safety of COVID-19 vaccine

The FDA has granted emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. It’s common for some patients to experience moderate side effects after receiving their COVID vaccine. This usually occurs after their second vaccine dose.

Some potential COVID-19 vaccine side effects include:

Fever
Chills
Soreness at your injection site
Flu-like symptoms
Fatigue
Body aches

Typically, these symptoms resolve after about 24 – 48 hours.

How soon after getting my COVID-19 vaccine can I visit my family?

Many of our patients at HSNT want to know how soon after getting their COVID vaccine can they visit their families, especially grandparents visiting their grandchildren. Experts suggest that it is safe to see and hug your family and/or grandkids after you’re fully vaccinated. This means that it has been 14 days after the second dose of your Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or after your single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Experts suggest the following types of visits depending on your risk for contracting COVID-19 and if you’ve been vaccinated:

When you are fully vaccinated and visiting fully vaccinated family or friends: Indoor visits without masks are okay and low-risk.
For those who are fully vaccinated and visiting healthy but not yet vaccinated grandchildren and adult children living in a single household: Indoor visits with masks are recommended.
When you’re fully vaccinated and visiting a single household of family or friends who are not yet vaccinated and are at risk for severe COVID-19 due to their age or health conditions: Wearing masks and staying six feet apart is recommended when indoors. Outdoor visits are less risky. To lower the risk, any individuals who are not yet vaccinated should get COVID-19 testing a few days before the visit.

Protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting the COVID-19 vaccine in North Texas

It’s important that our communities work together to reopen safely. This includes doing your part and getting the coronavirus vaccine, regardless of whether you have had COVID-19. To learn more about COVID vaccination and COVID-19 testing at one of our six locations in Denton, Wylie, or Plano, TX, schedule an appointment to speak with an experienced doctor at Health Services of North Texas today.