METRO is now offering two-dose COVID primary series vaccines and the updated Pfizer or Moderna (bivalent) booster to patients and community members that meet the eligibility requirements, while supplies last. Visit this page or call us at (727) 321-3854 about vaccine clinic hours and appointments at our 4 locations across Tampa Bay.

Metro Inclusive Health can provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters 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 ages 12 years and older are recommended to receive one updated Pfizer or Moderna (bivalent) booster, at least two months after completing the primary series doses.
    • This includes people who have received all primary series doses and people who have previously received one or more original (monovalent) boosters.
    • At this time, people aged 12 years to 17 years can only receive the updated Pfizer bivalent booster.
• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.
• COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest data.

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

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

• 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)

If the appointment is for your 2nd dose or a booster dose: in addition to the Consent Form and verification of Florida Residency, you must also bring your CDC vaccination card, which was provided during your 1st dose. If you have misplaced your card, please let the vaccination team know, so that we can provide a new one.

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.

Primary Series

The Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax options require two doses during primary series vaccination. The J&J vaccine requires one dose, but is recommended only in certain situations.

Boosters

The bivalent booster consists of a single dose.

Primary Series

CDC does not recommend mixing products for your primary series doses. If you received Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax for the first dose of your primary series, you should get the same product for all following primary series doses.

Boosters

• People ages 18 years and older may get a different product for a booster than they got for their primary series, as long as it is Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.
• Teens ages 12-17 years may get a different product for a booster than they got for their primary series, as long as it is Pfizer-BioNTech.
• Children ages 5 through 11 years who got a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series must also get Pfizer-BioNTech for a booster.
• People ages 12 years and older may only get the updated (bivalent) mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) booster. They can no longer get an original (monovalent) mRNA booster.
• Novavax is not authorized for use as a booster dose at this time.

Yes. The CDC recommends that you get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19, because you can be diagnosed more than once.

We don’t know how long short-term antibody protection can last after recovery, so vaccines are the safest option.

For those seeking a booster dose, they need to wait until they have recovered prior to receive any dose of the COVID vaccine. This means, at least 90 days from their positive test. Although there is no minimum interval AFTER the initial 10 days, and they could receive the vaccine any time after that, they need to consider that their immunity is at its highest after recovering from the disease and it might persist at these high levels for a few months. It will decrease over time but waiting a few weeks after having recovered from COVID seems to be safe and extend the benefits of the immunity once they receive the vaccine.

It is safe to receive the flu shot at the same time as your COVID-19 vaccines.

If you received the monkeypox vaccine, you must wait 4 weeks from your last dose before getting your COVID booster.

The vaccine helps our bodies build immunity to the virus by causing the disease without us actually getting sick from it. 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 the body is building immunity.

No. It typically takes a few weeks to build up immunity after the vaccination. That 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.