Vaccines

^Updated Who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot?

Adults 12 years and older who originally received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are eligible for a booster shot. Teens ages 12–17 can only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster.

People who originally received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and are eligible for a booster should receive the booster at least five months after their second dose. They may receive any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States (Pfizer or Moderna are preferred).

People who originally received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible to get a booster if they are 18 years or older. They may receive the booster two months after their original vaccine, and may receive any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States (Pfizer or Moderna are preferred)

More details can be found on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

Are booster shots the same formulation as existing vaccines?

Yes. COVID-19 booster shots are the same formulation as the current COVID-19 vaccines. However, in the case of the Moderna booster shot, it is half the dose of the vaccine people get for their initial series.

^Updated Which booster should you get?

Three COVID-19 vaccines are authorized or approved for use in the United States to prevent COVID-19. Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA vaccines) are preferred. You may get Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations.

You may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of heterologous (or “mix and match”) dosing for booster shots.

However, Teens 12–17 years old may only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster.

For example, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older may receive a single booster dose of J&J COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose) or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at least two months after receiving their J&J COVID-19 Vaccine primary vaccination.

In another example, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine recipients 12 years of age and older may receive a booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose), Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or J&J COVID-19 Vaccine at least five months after completing their primary vaccination.

Please refer to the individual fact sheets for each available vaccine for more information:

• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
• J&J COVID-19 Vaccine
• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

If we need a booster shot, are the vaccines working?

No. COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against the Delta and other variants. However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection, especially among certain groups of people, against mild and moderate disease.

What are the risks to getting a booster shot?

So far, people have experienced similar side effects to the booster shot as they did after receiving the primary vaccination. Fatigue and pain at the injection site were the most common side effects, and overall, most side effects were mild to moderate. However, serious side effects are rare, but may occur.

^Updated Am I still considered “fully vaccinated” if I don’t get a booster shot?

Yes. Everyone is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-shot series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the J&J vaccine.

Fully vaccinated, however is not the same as optimally protected.  To be optimally protected, a person needs to get a booster shot when and if eligible.

^New Should my child get a booster shot?

Everyone 12 years and older should receive a booster shot at least five months after completing their primary vaccination series. For teens ages 12-17, this means getting a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot. Currently, a booster shot is not recommended for children younger than 12 years old. For more information, scroll up to see our ‘vaccine boosters’ section.

Why should my child get vaccinated against COVID-19?

COVID-19 vaccination can help protect you and your child from getting COVID-19. Although fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, can get sick from COVID-19, and can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to others. Getting your child vaccinated helps to protect your child and your family. Vaccination is now recommended for everyone 5 years and older. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is the only one available to children and adolescents ages 5-17.

How will getting a COVID-19 vaccine protect my child and others?

• Vaccinating children can help protect family members, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at a higher risk of getting very sick if they are infected.
• Vaccination can also help keep children from getting seriously sick even if they do get COVID-19.
• Vaccinating children ages 5 years and older can help keep them in school and help them safely participate in sports, playdates, and other group activities.

^Updated Which COVID-19 vaccine(s) is approved for children and teens ages 5-17 in the United States?

Only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is currently approved for children and teens ages 5-17.

Can my child get COVID-19 from the vaccine ?

Your child cannot get COVID-19 from any COVID-19 vaccine.

^Updated Do children receive the same dose of vaccine as adults ?

Children ages 5-11 receive one-third of the adult dose of vaccine, and smaller needles are used. Teens ages 12 and over receive the full adult dose of the vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccine dosage does NOT vary by patient weight but by age on the day of vaccination. The ingredients are the same in the child and adult vaccines. Your child will need a second shot of the Pfizer vaccine three weeks after their first shot.

Is it safe for my child to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Children 5 years and older are now eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines have been studied under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, including studies in children 5 years and older. Your child cannot get COVID-19 from a COVID-19 vaccine.

What are the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in children?

Like adults, children may have some side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. These side effects may affect their ability to do daily activities, but these should go away in a few days.

Children may experience some pain, redness or swelling on the arm where they got the shot. They may also experience some tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever or nausea.

Helpful Tips to Relieve Side Effects

Talk to a doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen (such as Advil), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), or antihistamines (such as allergy medications), for any pain and discomfort that might occur after getting vaccinated. These medications can be taken to relieve post-vaccination side effects if there are no other medical reasons that prevents the patient from taking these medications normally.

It is not recommended to take these medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.

To reduce pain and discomfort where the shot was given

• Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area.
• Use or exercise your arm.

To reduce discomfort from fever

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Dress lightly.

After receiving a second shot

Side effects after the second shot may be more intense than the ones experienced after the first shot. These side effects are normal signs that the body is building protection and should go away within a few days.

Since April 2021, there have been increased reports of cases of inflammation of the heart—called myocarditis and pericarditis—after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) in the United States. Should I Still Get Myself or My Child Vaccinated?

Yes. CDC continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 5 years of age and older, given the risk of COVID-19 illness and related, possibly severe complications, such as long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death. If you or your child has already gotten the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, it is important to get the second dose unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get it.

The known and potential benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks, including the possible risk of myocarditis or pericarditis. Also, most patients with myocarditis and pericarditis who received care responded well to medicine and rest and quickly felt better.

If you have concerns about COVID-19 vaccination, talk with your or your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic.

How should I prepare for my child’s vaccination appointment?

• Get tips from your doctor for how to support your child before, during, and after the visit.
• Talk to your child before the visit about what to expect.
• Tell the doctor or nurse about any allergies your child may have.
• Comfort your child during the appointment if they are nervous.
• To prevent fainting and injuries related to fainting, your child should be seated or lying down during vaccination and for 15 minutes after the vaccine is given.
• After your child’s COVID-19 vaccination, you will be asked to stay for 15–30 minutes so your child can be observed.

Can my child receive a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines on the same day?

Your child may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including flu vaccine, at the same time.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?

There are currently multiple COVID-19 vaccines being developed, tested and approved. They are all meant to teach the body’s immune system to safely recognize and block the coronavirus. The various types include:

• mRNA vaccines, which contain synthetic mRNA, which is information used to make a coronavirus spike protein. This protein alone cannot cause COVID-19. Our cell uses this mRNA to make the viral protein which then causes our immune system to make antibodies to fight the virus when it is encountered.
• Viral vector vaccines, which use a genetically engineered virus to carry the genetic code (such as DNA) to generate a protein that prompts an immune response, without causing COVID-19.
• Inactivated or weakened virus vaccines, which use a form of the virus that has been inactivated or weakened so it doesn’t cause disease, but still generates an immune response.
• Protein-based vaccines, which use harmless fragments of proteins or protein shells that mimic the COVID-19 virus to generate an immune response, without causing COVID-19.

For more information: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/how-do-vaccines-work

What are mRNA vaccines and how do they work?

Messenger RNA vaccines—also called mRNA vaccines—are some of the first COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech) authorized for use in the United States. mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases.

The immune system helps the body fight infections. To trigger a protective response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. The antibodies produced as a result are helpful to detect and launch an attack against the real viruses.

Why was the COVID-19 vaccine developed so much faster than other vaccines?

The vaccine development process is happening faster because vaccine research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and plans for distribution are taking place at the same time. This method removes delays that occur when these processes are carried out one after the other. Operation Warp Speed also accelerated the development by investing in and coordinating the various steps. Steps to ensure safety are not being eliminated.

How are vaccines tested?

Possible vaccines go through an intensive testing process.  Testing includes careful examination of the vaccine and its ingredients.  These tests evaluate the safety of the vaccine and how well it prevents a disease.  Tests are first done in research labs, and then if the vaccine looks effective and safe, researchers can apply to do clinical trials.  Clinical trials typically involve several thousand healthy volunteer participants in three phases with increasing numbers of participants in each phase.  Trials in all phases have to follow strict safety regulations that are set by national regulatory authorities that prioritize participant safety.  When vaccine manufacturers apply for approval for their vaccine, the results of all the clinical trials are considered.

How do we know the vaccine is safe?

The most commonly used vaccines we have today have been in use for decades, with millions of people receiving them safely every year. As with all these successful vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines have also undergone extensive and rigorous testing before being approved.  Scientists around the world have been working since early 2020 to develop the current possible COVID-19 vaccines and go through all of the testing processes to ensure they are safe. The vaccine safety is also monitored after the vaccines have been introduced which is called post-market surveillance. This ensures that the vaccines will continue to meet the same quality, safety and performance requirements as when they were initially introduced in the market.

Are there side effects to receiving the vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects include pain and swelling at the site of injection, and flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, tiredness and headache. These should go away in a few days.

It has been seen that some people can develop allergic reactions after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have ever had a severe allergic reactions to other vaccines or injectables, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor before getting vaccinated.

Is it safe for me to get the vaccine if I have a health condition such as diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, or heart disease?

Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines may be administered to people with underlying medical conditions if they have not had severe allergic reactions to other vaccines or injectables.

People with a weakened immune system due to other illnesses or medication, may receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, they should be aware of the limited safety data on the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. If you have additional questions about whether it is safe for you to get the COVID-19 vaccine, talk with your healthcare provider.

Is it safe for me to get the vaccine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

If you are pregnant, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 when compared with non-pregnant people. Pregnant people with COVID-19 might also be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, compared with pregnant women without COVID-19.

Based on how these vaccines work, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a risk for people who are pregnant. Currently there is limited data on the safety of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 among people who are pregnant and breastfeeding, though scientists are studying this further. The CDC recommends talking with your healthcare provider about the vaccine if you have questions.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html

Will I have to pay for the vaccine? What if I do not have health insurance?

Vaccines will be provided at no cost. However, providers can charge an administration fee. This fee can be covered by public or private insurance or by the Health Resources and Serviced Administration’s Provider Relief Fund, for those who are uninsured.

If you receive a bill for your COVID-19 vaccine, know that you should not have to pay it. Call your insurance company or, if you do not have insurance, call the location where you received your vaccine and let them know that they cannot charge you for the vaccine.

Will there be enough vaccine for everyone?

Everyone ages 5 and older is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only vaccine approved for 5-17 year-olds; the other approved vaccines are available to everyone ages 18 and older. It is important to get a vaccine and a booster as soon as possible to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To find a vaccine in the United States, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/reporting/vaccinefinder/about.html

Even after receiving the vaccine, it is important to continue to follow the general recommendations including the use of face masks, distancing, and washing hands.

What are the vaccines available to me?

Can I mix and match vaccines?

After your first dose, you’ll receive a vaccination card indicating which vaccine you were given and the recommended date of the second dose. You’ll also receive an information sheet telling you more about the vaccine. To avoid delays, set up your second appointment at the same location where you got the first shot. That way you’ll know you’ll get the same vaccine. In most cases, health workers will not give you a different second dose than the one indicated on your vaccination card. If you start with the Pfizer vaccine, you should get the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine three weeks later. If you start with the Moderna vaccine, you should get the Moderna vaccine four weeks later.

For booster shots, you may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of heterologous (or “mix and match”) dosing for booster shots. However, Teens 12–17 years old may only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster.

For example, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older may receive a single booster dose of J&J COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose) or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at least two months after receiving their J&J COVID-19 Vaccine primary vaccination.

In another example, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older may receive a booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose), Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or J&J COVID-19 Vaccine at least five months after completing their primary vaccination.

Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?

No, the different types of vaccines have different materials in them that will signal our bodies to produce the proteins or antibodies  to protect us from the virus. NONE of these vaccines contain the active COVID-19 virus.

The immune response that is initiated in the body might lead to symptoms, such as fever. This does not mean the person is infected with the virus. Learn more from the CDC about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

It typically takes two weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

Will I be required to get the vaccine in order to go to work or school?

While the vaccine will not be made mandatory nationwide or statewide, employers and schools can require people who will be working and learning in their buildings to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 would not be the first vaccine to be mandated in certain spaces. Many healthcare employers require the annual flu vaccine and most schools require students to receive the recommended childhood vaccines. A COVID-19 vaccine could also be required for international travel. Check with your individual employer, school, airline, or other institution for specific information on their policies.

If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes, you should get vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. There is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again. Early evidence suggests that this protection may not last very long, but it seems to vary by individuals.

If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

If I currently have COVID-19, should I get the vaccine now?

If someone currently has active symptoms of COVID-19, it is recommended that they wait to get vaccinated until they have recovered and met the criteria for ending isolation.

Will getting a flu vaccine protect me against COVID-19?

A flu vaccine will NOT protect you from getting COVID-19, but it can prevent you from getting influenza (flu) at the same time as COVID-19.  This can keep you from having a more severe illness.  While it’s not possible to say with certainty what will happen in the winter, it’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading during that time.  That means that getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever to protect your health and prevent hospitals from becoming overcrowded with flu patients and COVID-19 patients.

What are the ingredients in vaccines?

Today’s vaccines use only ingredients that are safe and effective. Each ingredient in a vaccine serves a specific purpose. For example, vaccine ingredients may:

1. Help provide immunity (protection) against a specific disease
2. Help keep the vaccine safe and long lasting
3. Be used during the production of the vaccine

Ingredients provide immunity-

Vaccines include ingredients to help your immune system respond and build immunity to a specific disease. For example:

• Antigens are very small amounts of weak or dead germs that can cause diseases. They help your immune system learn how to fight off infections faster and more effectively. The flu virus is an example of an antigen.
• Adjuvants, which are in some vaccines, are substances that help your immune system respond more strongly to a vaccine. This increases your immunity against the disease. Aluminum is an example of an adjuvant.
• Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), in some new COVID-19 vaccines, is the active component that generates an immune response in the recipient. The mRNA instructs the body to create a copy of the COVID-19 virus protein, which generates an immune response against the virus. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines are examples of mRNA vaccines.

Ingredients keep vaccines safe and long lasting-

Some ingredients help make sure a vaccine continues to work like it’s supposed to and that it stays free of outside germs and bacteria. For example:

• Preservatives protect the vaccine from outside bacteria or fungus. Today, preservatives are usually only used in vials (containers) of vaccines that have more than 1 dose. That’s because every time an individual dose is taken from the vial, it’s possible for harmful germs to get inside. Most vaccines are also available in single-dose vials and do not have preservatives in them.
• Stabilizers, like sugar or gelatin, help the active ingredients in vaccines continue to work while the vaccine is made, stored, and moved. Stabilizers keep the active ingredients in vaccines from changing because of something like a shift in temperature where the vaccine is being stored.

Ingredients used during the production of vaccines-

Some ingredients that are needed to produce the vaccine are no longer needed for the vaccine to work in a person. These ingredients are taken out after production so only tiny amounts are left in the final product. The very small amounts of these ingredients that remain in the final product aren’t harmful. Examples of ingredients used in some vaccines include:

• Cell culture (growth) material, like eggs, to help grow the vaccine antigens.
• Inactivating (germ-killing) ingredients, like formaldehyde, to weaken or kill viruses, bacteria, or toxins in the vaccine.
• Antibiotics, like neomycin, to help keep outside germs and bacteria from growing in the vaccine.

Detailed ingredients of the Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines can be found on their Emergency use authorization documents released by the FDA.

The claim that these vaccines contain a microchip or tracker is FALSE. The claim that these vaccines contain mercury is also FALSE.

For more information about the ingredients and possible allergens, please ask your provider before getting the vaccine.

For more information: https://www.vaccines.gov/basics/vaccine_ingredients

Does the COVID-19 vaccine contain aluminum?

The Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines do NOT contain aluminum.

A very small amount of aluminum is used as an ingredient in some vaccines because it helps our immune system to respond more strongly to the vaccine. For decades, vaccines that include aluminum have been tested for safety — these studies have shown that using aluminum in vaccines is safe.