Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the novel coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person.

SARS-CoV-2 typically spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, talks, or breathes, it releases droplets. Someone nearby can inhale the droplets into their lungs, or the droplets can land in their eyes, nose, or mouth, infecting them.

Infected droplets also can land on surfaces or objects. When a person touches those surfaces and then touches their nose, mouth, or eyes without washing their hands, this also can cause an infection.

If a person is infected, they can spread the coronavirus even if they don't have symptoms of COVID-19.

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are at the greatest risk of infection. However, the COVID-19 vaccine can significantly reduce your risk of infection. The COVID-19 vaccines are effective against COVID-19, especially in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Certain groups of people also are more at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. People more at risk of COVID-19 complications include older adults and people with existing medical conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and more. Unvaccinated people also are at greater risk for severe illness than vaccinated people.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever/chills.
• Cough.
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing.
• Fatigue.
• Muscle/body aches.
• Headache.
• Loss of taste or smell.
• Sore throat.
• Congestion/runny nose.
• Nausea/vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

Symptoms usually appear within 2-14 days after exposure. They can range from mild to severe. Some people may experience no symptoms at all. However, even asymptomatic people can spread the coronavirus.

To prevent the spread of this virus:

Get vaccinated. Ensure you are fully vaccinated, and encourage your family members and loved ones to get vaccinated. To schedule a vaccine, go to Vaccine.UPMC.com. The COVID-19 vaccines available are safe and effective against COVID-19. They are especially effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Masking: Please be advised that guidelines vary by state or even by business. Be sure to follow all laws and guidelines about wearing a mask, whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

Other ways you can protect yourself include:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Ask others to cover their mouths and nose when they cough and sneeze.
• Clean and disinfect regularly used objects and surfaces.
• Avoid touching your face, mouth, nose, or eyes.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to wash your hands often, especially after the following activities:
  • Using the bathroom
  • Touching common surfaces, such as elevator buttons and phones
  • Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • Before eating

• If you believe you have been exposed to the coronavirus and do not have symptoms, contact your primary care doctor.
• If you are experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, and/or shortness of breath, contact your primary care doctor.
• If you do not have a primary care doctor, you can use UPMC AnywhereCare.
• If you are having severe symptoms like fever or trouble breathing, call 911 or visit an Emergency Department near you for immediate care.

If you are experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms without breathing problems, or if you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your primary care provider or schedule an appointment online for a COVID-19 test or vaccine at UPMC Urgent Care locations.

The UPMC Emergency Department is not the place to get a COVID-19 test, unless you are experiencing breathing problems or other severe symptoms. Test results do not come back more quickly by coming to the Emergency Department. For more information on COVID-19 testing, please visit our testing page.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act requires providers to list the “cash price" of COVID-19 tests on their public websites. UPMC's standard charge for a COVID-19 diagnostic lab test is $125, and the standard charge for the specimen collection is $30. If you have insurance, most plans will waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing, so there should be no out-of-pocket cost to you for this test.

Please contact your insurer if you have questions about your plan. Similarly, if you do not have insurance, you will not have an out-of-pocket cost for the COVID-19 diagnostic lab test. The CARES Act provides a financial support mechanism for hospitals and providers that conduct COVID-19 diagnostic testing on uninsured patients during the public health emergency.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized multiple COVID-19 treatments. UPMC recommends an oral medication called Paxlovid™.

Paxlovid is an oral antiviral medication that must be taken within five (5) days of symptom onset. Paxlovid is available at retail pharmacies and can be prescribed by a medical provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant). If you have low renal function (eGFR < 30 mL/min), you are not eligible for Paxlovid. Your doctor should carefully review your list of medications before you take Paxlovid, as some medications cannot be taken with Paxlovid.

To learn more about this treatment and find out if you are eligible, visit our COVID-19 treatment webpage.

UPMC is monitoring the COVID-19 situation around the clock. We have implemented all recommendations from our local and state departments of health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you are under regular care for a chronic condition, have postponed necessary care, or are urgently ill, talk to your doctor about whether you need an office visit or a medically necessary procedure or surgery. If you do need to come to one of our facilities for treatment, we are taking every measure to keep you safe during this challenging time:

• Masks are required for everyone inside our buildings. UPMC will provide masks to people who do not have them.
• Physical distancing is enforced inside UPMC facilities.
• All furniture, doorknobs, elevator buttons, and other high-touch items in our hospitals and outpatient areas are cleaned and sanitized regularly with hospital-grade disinfectant.
• Our medical staff is trained to recognize patients who may have COVID-19. UPMC also is offering pre-testing to patients before some procedures to prevent spread of the virus.
• Each hospital has a skilled and experienced Infection Prevention team. The team is always working to minimize the possibility of infectious disease spreading.
• We have trained clinical teams who are fully equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to care for patients with serious infections, including COVID-19.
• In-hospital patients who test positive for COVID-19 are isolated and treated with the highest standard of care. We have a thorough testing process to make sure all our patients are safe.
• UPMC continues to limit patient support persons in our facilities, per our Patient Support Person Guidelines that vary by facility and service type. UPMC no longer requires the added step of documentation. UPMC removed the visitor age requirement, which previously limited visitors to age 18 and older. Now, children who have the ability to wear a mask are permitted to visit with inpatients and accompany loved ones during outpatient visits.
  • Visitor regulations may vary at UPMC facilities. Read about visitor stipulations at UPMC Emergency Departments, UPMC Chautauqua, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and other UPMC locations.
• UPMC offers several telemedicine options for patients. Most providers, including primary care physicians (PCP) and specialists, are available for video visits. All you need is an appointment, a smartphone or tablet, and a free UPMC patient portal account. If you do not have a primary care provider, you can find one in our online directory or use UPMC AnywhereCare.

The way COVID-19 spreads is different than mpox. COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that is very contagious and can spread even when an individual has no symptoms. COVID-19 can spread through talking, laughing, coughing, and sneezing. Mpox requires very close contact to spread and is not a respiratory virus. Mpox is not contagious until you have symptoms.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized or approved three COVID-19 vaccines:

• Pfizer-BioNTech.
• Moderna.
• Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (commonly referred to as J&J).

UPMC is providing all three vaccines.

In the United States, people age 6 months and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

To schedule a vaccine appointment with UPMC, visit Vaccine.UPMC.com and follow the instructions there. You also can schedule an appointment by calling 844-876-2822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The COVID-19 vaccine is free.

After being vaccinated, you may receive a notice electronically or in the mail from your insurance company, called an Explanation of Benefits (EOB), that a charge to give the vaccine was submitted. It is not a bill, and it is not a charge for the vaccine. The government allows your vaccine provider to charge your insurance for the cost of giving/administering the vaccine.

For those who do not have insurance, or if insurance does not cover the fee, you will not be responsible for the fee. If you receive an EOB and would like more information, please contact your health insurer.

Yes. UPMC offers second dose vaccine appointments, regardless of where you received your first dose. However, we encourage you to get your second dose from the same provider when it is possible and practical for you to do so.

Please visit Vaccine.UPMC.com, and follow the process for scheduling a vaccine online or by phone. In the online system, there will be an option for you to indicate that this is your second dose. You should have your vaccine card handy so you can provide important details about your first dose. If you are scheduling by phone, please indicate that this is your second dose and that UPMC did not provide your first dose.

UPMC currently offers the Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized two Omicron-specific boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The boosters, called "bivalent" protect against the COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

Yes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can get your COVID-19 vaccine without regard to the timing of other vaccines. You can even get the COVID-19 vaccine on the same day as another vaccine.

You are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after receiving your final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. That's two weeks after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after receiving the single-dose J&J vaccine.

Until you are fully vaccinated, you should continue to follow COVID-19 preventive tactics. That includes wearing a mask and physically distancing in indoor public places.

Once you are fully vaccinated, you may safely resume many activities without wearing a mask and physically distancing. However, you should continue to follow any laws, regulations, or guidelines about wearing a mask, even after you are fully vaccinated. Also, people who are immunocompromised should consider continuing to wear a mask and physically distancing in indoor public places even after being fully vaccinated.

You should not get the vaccine if you are currently infected with COVID-19, if you have been exposed to COVID-19, or if you have another respiratory illness. If you have symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19, you should not get vaccinated until you meet the CDC’s guidelines for ending isolation. Talk to your provider about rescheduling.

If you have another respiratory illness, talk to your provider about when it is safe for you to receive the vaccine.

Yes, and UPMC is currently offering additional doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J vaccines to those who are eligible, following the guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information, visit Vaccine.UPMC.com or call 844-876-2822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The three vaccines in distribution all are effective against COVID-19. They are especially effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged. The vaccines continue to be effective in preventing COVID-19, even with the variants. They are most effective in preventing severe illness from COVID-19, including hospitalizations and deaths.

Yes. The vaccine is safe and effective against COVID-19.

Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the vaccines, they underwent a thorough safety review. All available data from clinical trials and since distribution began report the vaccines are safe. Health officials are continuing to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.

The most common side effects of the vaccines include pain and swelling where you received the shot, fever, chills, fatigue, and headache. These are common for many vaccines because a vaccine triggers an immune response. The side effects should go away within a few days.

There have been some reports of isolated allergic reactions to the vaccine, which scientists are investigating. Allergic reactions to vaccines are not common and are typically mild.

• The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA-based. If you previously had an allergic reaction to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Ask your doctor if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine.
  • If you had an allergic reaction to the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, ask your doctor if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine.
• If you have previously had an allergic reaction to any ingredient in the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get the J&J vaccine. Ask your doctor if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reaction to a vaccine, vaccine component, or injectable medication, you should consult your primary care physician or allergist before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have allergies that don’t relate to vaccines or injectable medicines, the CDC recommends you get the COVID-19 vaccine.

No.

• The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. mRNA is genetic material our body naturally makes, and in this vaccine, this tiny piece of genetic material teaches our cells how to make a virus protein that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what helps to protect us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies. The mRNA and protein quickly disappear after they have taught our body to respond to the virus.
  • For more information on COVID-19 vaccines and mRNA, read our article.


• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, meanwhile, is a viral vector vaccine. A viral vector vaccine uses a different virus as the “vector” – i.e., the mechanism that delivers instructions to your body. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses an adenovirus – a common virus that typically causes the cold or flu symptoms. Scientists added a piece of the coronavirus’ genetic material to the adenovirus. When you receive the vaccine, your body recognizes the coronavirus’ genetic material and creates antibodies against it. Although the adenovirus can enter your cells, you cannot get sick from it.
  • For more about viral vector vaccines, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to become pregnant now, or who may become pregnant in the future. Pregnant women are at higher risk for COVID-19 complications, including severe illness, so vaccination is a key preventive step. The benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) also recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women.

No.

Despite online rumors that the COVID-19 vaccine can affect fertility, this is not true. The COVID-19 vaccine has no impact on fertility in men or women.

Like any vaccine, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is your personal choice. You can choose to get it or not when it becomes available to you. However, getting the vaccine can protect both you and the people around you, including our most vulnerable individuals. The vaccine is a crucial step to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

The following people should not get the vaccine:

• People who have previously had a severe or immediate allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19. vaccine. They should talk to their doctor to see if they can get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine.
• People who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma for the treatment of COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
• People who are currently sick with COVID-19.
• People who are currently under quarantine after exposure to COVID-19.

People with a history of certain health conditions should talk to their doctor before scheduling their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.