COVID-19 Vaccine Update

The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorization for three COVID-19 vaccines:

• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
• The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
• The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine (*The CDC and FDA have authorized resuming the use of this vaccine in adults as of April 23, 2021 after reported cases of rare blood clots. Please see our COVID-19 Vaccine Position Statement for more information.)

Here’s what you should know about these vaccines if you take an anticoagulant (also called a blood thinner).

• Taking an anticoagulant does not exclude you from receiving the vaccine. Global recommendations state that you can be vaccinated if your anticoagulation is stable.
  • If you’re on anticoagulant injections, including enoxaparin (Lovenox^®) or fondaparinux (Arixtra^®), you can be vaccinated.
  • If you take warfarin, you can be vaccinated as long as you routinely test your INR levels and if your INR is within a target (or therapeutic) range as determined by your doctor.
  • If you take a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), including apixaban (Eliquis^®), dabigatran (Pradaxa^®), edoxaban (Savaysa^®), and rivaroxaban (Xarelto^®), you can be vaccinated.
• Although bruising or very light bleeding can occur at the injection site, the vaccine is not associated with a serious risk of bleeding. Expert guidance recommends that patients apply firm pressure to the injection site—without rubbing—for at least two minutes.

Please note that NATF cannot provide medical advice regarding your personal medical situation, nor can we determine when the vaccine will be available to you.