METRO is now offering the Pfizer-Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine to patients and community members who meet the eligibility requirements, while supplies last. Visit this page or call us at (727) 321-3854 for vaccine clinic hours and appointments at our nine locations across Tampa Bay.

Metro Inclusive Health provides the COVID-19 vaccine to people ages 12 and older.

According to the CDC recommendation:

• Everyone should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including all primary series doses and boosters for their age group.
  • People 12 years and older are recommended to receive one COVID-19 vaccine.
• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from a COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19 in the future.
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.
  
  

All patients must fill out a vaccine consent form, including legal guardian permission if the patient is under 18 years old.

For any COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please bring a completed copy of the COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Form, insurance card, and verification of Florida Residency. Accepted documents include:

• Florida-Issued Photo ID (preferred)
• If you don’t have a Florida-Issued ID, you can bring any Photo ID in addition to:
  
  • Voter Registration Card
  • Utility Bill
  • Lease or Mortgage Statement
  • Government Issued Letter (ie. Social Security Determination Letter)

You are considered up to date when you receive one updated COVID-19 vaccine.

If you recently had COVID-19, you still need to stay up to date with your vaccines, but you may consider delaying your vaccine by 3 months.

Reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after infection. However, certain factors could be reasons to get a vaccine sooner rather than later, such as:

• Personal risk of severe disease
• Risk of disease in a loved one or close contact
• The most common COVID-19 variant currently causing illness

The COVID-19 vaccine helps our bodies build immunity to the virus by triggering an immune response without us actually getting sick. You can learn more from the CDC about the main types of COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccination is one of many steps we must take to protect ourselves and those around us. Being vaccinated, along with following CDC recommendations around the COVID-19 pandemic, is an important precaution for your long-term health.

Getting the vaccine prepares your immune system to fight off the virus if you are exposed. COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications and lead to death in some people. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. The vaccine can help protect you by creating an antibody response in your body without becoming sick with COVID-19.

Vaccination might prevent you from getting COVID-19, becoming seriously ill, or developing serious complications due to the virus.

If you get COVID-19, you could spread the disease to family, friends, and others. Vaccination might help protect your community, particularly those at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Common side effects for the COVID-19 vaccines in adults include:

On the arm where you got the shot:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
  
  

Throughout the rest of your body:

• Tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea
  
  

For this reason, you will be required to wait on-site for 15 minutes after receiving a dose of any COVID-19 vaccine at METRO.

None of the vaccines currently in development in the U.S. use the live virus that causes COVID-19. The point of vaccination is to teach our immune systems to recognize and fight off the virus that causes COVID-19. This can cause symptoms, such as fever, but these symptoms are normal and show that the body is building immunity.

No. It typically takes a few weeks to build up immunity after the vaccination. This means it is possible to get COVID-19 after your primary series vaccinations.

The FDA has a thorough review process that analyzes data from clinical trials involving thousands of people and determines next steps, such as emergency use authorization (EUA) or approval. Safety and effectiveness are evaluated as part of this process and will continue to be monitored as the vaccines roll out to the general public.

The COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people of all races and ethnicities to make sure they met safety standards. These trials showed no serious safety concerns.

The CDC has created a new smartphone-based tool available to anyone who receives a COVID-19 vaccine. Those who enroll in v-safe can receive reminders about the second vaccine dose and surveys about how they’re feeling after a COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with underlying health problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity; they are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Before clearing a treatment for emergency use authorization (EUA), the FDA evaluates its safety and effectiveness.

The COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people of all races and ethnicities to make sure they met safety standards. These trials showed no serious safety concerns.

Continue to follow CDC guidelines: maintain social distancing, wash your hands, and wear your mask.