COVID-19 vaccine: When’s the right time for the second dose?

Good Samaritan Society CMO: Don't worry if your doses are more spread out

Written by
January 19, 2021
4 min read
COVID-19 vaccine: When’s the right time for the second dose?
COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna both require two doses 21 or 28 days apart, depending on the brand. There's no need to space out doses more than that, but it's OK if you miss them by a few days. (Photo by Lonnie Nichols, Sanford Health)

Good Samaritan Society nurse Marianna Brawand received her first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

21 days later, like clockwork, she’s back for her second dose.

“It’s for the good of those around us,” Brawand says.

Brawand is a health care hero at Good Samaritan Society – Luther Manor. She cares deeply for her residents and wants to be one of the first Society employees vaccinated to protect them and her loved ones.

“We remember what it was like without the masks. We remember the good times. Hopefully, more and more people will get vaccinated so we can get back to those good times before all this started,” Brawand says.

Some flexibility in timing

While Brawand’s second dose came right on time, Society Chief Medical Officer Gregory Johnson, M.D., says people shouldn’t worry if their doses are more spread out.

“So if your recommended dose should happen on day 21 and it’s now day 27, you just need to go ahead and get it. If you’re that person who had the infusion of the antibodies and you have to wait 90 days. Will we make you start over? No we won’t. Your second dose may be on day 92 or something,” Dr. Johnson says.

Dr. Johnson adds there is growing confidence in the amount of vaccine available. At most Society locations, the COVID-19 vaccine is arriving through a partnership with Walgreens and CVS.

“The vaccine supply chain is a lot more secure than it was,” Dr. Johnson says.

He says people don’t need to wonder if there will be enough vaccine for second doses.

“We’re past that. Supply chain is secure. We have vaccine rolling in and we just need to move,” Dr. Johnson says.

Signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine, like Brawand, is a move in the right direction.

“I’m so thankful for people stepping out and I think doing the right thing,” Brawand says.

If you’d like more information on COVID-19 and Good Samaritan Society, you can sign up for the Society’s newsletter.

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Posted In COVID-19, Frequently Asked Questions, Immunizations, News, Senior Services

Matt Holsen
Matt Holsen is an Upper Midwest Emmy Award winning journalist for Sanford Health News. He has more than 15 years of radio and television broadcast experience in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Matt joined the Sanford Health News team in October 2020. Spending time with his wife and three kids is his favorite thing to do. He also loves telling stories and supporting veterans. Matt is a veteran who served in the United States Marine Corps. Connect with Matt anytime on his social media accounts or by emailing matt.holsen@sanfordhealth.org.