Vaccine Eligibility at Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River

• Who can register for COVID-19 vaccine clinics now?

  • The Pfizer vaccine is available to any DOD eligible beneficiary (Active Duty, Retiree, Dependents, GS, or Contractor), enrolled or not enrolled at NHCPR, who is 12 years and older. Often same day appointments are available.

  • Ages 5-11 will be able to start receiving vaccines on November 15, 2021.

DOD COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

The DOD now requires COVID-19 vaccines for all members of the Armed Forces under DOD authority on active duty or in the Ready Reserve, including the National Guard who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This include pregnant service members. Each service will decide their own deadline for vaccination.

• If you’re a service member and you’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine from a non-DOD provider, make sure to update your medical records.

• If you haven’t received your COVID vaccine yet, schedule your vaccine as soon as you can.

• Find a DOD COVID Vaccine Location near you.

The DOD already requires all ADSMs to get other types of vaccines before they join the military. There are very narrow religious and medical exemptions available on a case-by-case basis. If you have questions, contact your unit commander.

Vaccine Appointments & Registering

• How are appointments being scheduled? Do I need an appointment to get the vaccine?

  • Use the following link to be taken to the scheduling system. https://informatics-stage.health.mil/covax/

Vaccine Scheduling QR Code

• How can I get help registering if I don’t have access to or am not comfortable using a computer, once NHCPR moves to an electronic scheduling platform?

  • Members who need assistance with electronic appointment registration and are currently eligible to receive a vaccine may call the NHCPR Immunizations department at (301) 757-2142 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00p.m., 1:00p.m.-4:00 p.m., and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00p.m., 1:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• What about my second dose?

  • Second doses will be allotted to NHCPR Immunizations clinic in time for their administration to those due to receive them.

  • Individuals vaccinated by NHCPR prior to January 18, 2021 will receive a phone call to schedule their 2nd dose if not done already at the vaccine site. Members vaccinated after January 18,2021 will have their second dose scheduled on site, during the administration of their first dose.

COVID-19 Vaccine for Children

Getting your children vaccinated can help protect them against COVID-19, as well as reduce disruptions to in-person learning and activities by helping curb community transmission. Vaccination also reduces risk of:

• Severe disease

• Hospitalizations

• Long-term COVID-19 complications

The CDC recommends that children ages 12 to 15 receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and children ages 5 to 11 receive a pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a 2-dose series, 21-days apart. Each dose contains 10mg of the vaccine, which is one third the adult dose.
 
If you are unsure whether the vaccine it right for your children, we recommend you discuss your child’s medical conditions, including prior reaction to vaccines, with a medical provider.

Additional Dose for Immunocompromised

People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are recommended to get an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).

Booster Dose

Pfizer

• The 3^rd dose is 28 days from the 2^nd dose for moderately to severely Immunocompromised individuals 18+

  The Booster is 6 months after the 2^nd dose for EVERYONE 18+. 

Moderna

• The 3rd dose is 287 days from the 2nd dose fir moderately to severely Immunocompromised individuals 18+.
  The Booster is 6 months after the 2nd dose for EVERYONE 18+

Are You a DOD Civilian Employee?

All DOD civilian employees must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 22, 2021, subject to exemptions as required by law. >> See SecDef Memo

• Employees are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after completing the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or 2 weeks after receiving a single dose of a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

• New DoD civilian employees must be fully vaccinated by their entry on duty (start) date or Nov. 22, 2021, whichever is later.

Information to Prepare You for Your Vaccine 

• What should I know before my appointment?

  • Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes early for your vaccine appointment time – arriving early impacts patient flow and will result in increased wait time.

  • Please bring identification.

  • If you are coming back for your second dose, please remember to bring your CDC COVID-19 vaccination card that you were given after receiving your first dose.

  • If able, please bring the completed Immunization Screening form with you to your appointment, this will help decrease overall wait times for patients.

• I have concerns about COVID-19 vaccine allergies. What should I do?

  • The local county health department has great information regarding COVID-19 vaccines and allergies. Review the information posted online.

  • Discuss your concerns and personal situation with your primary care provider or allergy specialist/immunologist. 

  • If you have had an immediate or severe allergic reaction (e.g., hives, trouble breathing, anaphylaxis, angioedema) to the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, any component of the COVID-19 vaccine, or polysorbate you should NOT receive the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (1st dose or any additional doses). NHCPR recommends you seek consultation with an allergy/immunologist physician.