Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines

Last updated: October 25, 2022

Pfizer vaccines are available by appointment for established patients in our Primary Care and Pediatric centers. Schedule an appointment using MyChart. Patients under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive a vaccination at Henry Ford Health.

Updated bivalent COVID boosters for children ages 5 to 11 years coming soon

The FDA and CDC have authorized and recommended updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters for children ages 5 through 11 years. The updated Pfizer booster is already available for youth ages 12 years and older. (Henry Ford Health does not offer the Moderna vaccine or booster.)

The Pfizer bivalent boosters target the original coronavirus strain as well as the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants. The new booster can be given 2 months after completing the primary dose series, or 2 months after receiving a booster of the previous monovalent booster formulation.

We will offer the Pfizer bivalent booster for children ages 5 to 11 in our Pediatric and Family Medicine centers later this fall. The FDA has discontinued use of the previous monovalent booster formulation for patients of any age. If you have an appointment for a COVID booster scheduled for your child ages 5 to 11 years, your Pediatric or Family Medicine office may notify you that your appointment has been cancelled.

Please check this web site for updates on when you can schedule an appointment for your child to receive the updated Pfizer booster. Appointments can be scheduled using MyChart. If you would like your child to receive the updated booster sooner or prefer the Moderna vaccine, visit www.michigan.gov/covidvaccine for sources near you.

When is Henry Ford offering the updated booster?

• We will begin offering the updated Pfizer booster formulation for children ages 5 to 11 later this fall.
• We must first make crucial updates to our electronic medical records system, Epic, which tracks vaccine dosage and schedules. Epic provides those updates after the FDA and CDC give their authorization and recommendation.
• This step-by-step process is meant to ensure a smooth, safe process for our patients.

Why doesn’t Henry Ford offer Moderna or Novavax?

• While all the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, we limit our vaccination supply to the Pfizer vaccine.
• The Pfizer vaccine was first to be authorized and is available for the greatest range of ages.
• The COVID-19 vaccines have different storage and dosing requirements. Using the same brand of COVID-19 vaccine at our many Primary Care and Pediatric centers simplifies ordering, storing, transporting and delivering the vaccine to our patients.

COVID-19 Vaccine Questions and Answers

We know you have a lot of questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Use the links below to navigate to the topic you're interested in learning more about.

• COVID-19 Vaccine Basics - Information about where you can receive the vaccine, how to schedule an appointment and general information on the vaccines.
• COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness - Answers to your questions about the safety of the vaccines, what side effects you may experience and how effective the vaccine will be for you.
• Kids and the COVID-19 Vaccine – Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children and how to schedule an appointment for your child at Henry Ford. 
• Booster Doses – Find out more about COVID-19 boosters and if you are eligible.
• Third Doses for Immunocompromised People – These FAQs will answer questions people with compromised immune systems may have about COVID-19 and third doses.
• Fertility, Pregnancy and the COVID-19 Vaccines – If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, find answers to your vaccine questions here.