In simple terms, a vaccine is a suspension of weakened or dead virus or pieces of the virus, that is used to protect people against the disease caused by that virus.  Vaccines help your immune system recognize and destroy the virus when your body is exposed to these viruses from other people.  Over the last hundred years, vaccines have been developed to combat smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, and more.

A vaccine is one of the tools available to stop a pandemic. They boost your immune system so if you are exposed to the virus, you can fight it. Other steps, like wearing a mask, washing your hands and physically distancing, help reduce your chances of being exposed to or spreading the virus.

Clinical trials are an important part of determining vaccine safety and effectiveness. The purpose of clinical trials is to generate scientific and safety data for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review and base their recommendations on. The trials determined the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. The Pfizer, Moderna and now Johnson & Johnson vaccines have all received emergency use approval from the FDA to distribute in the United States.

Pfizer’s clinical trial enrolled 44,000+ participants globally with 42% of them having racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Moderna enrolled 30,000 trial participants from, including 6,000 Hispanic and 3,000 Black participants.

An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve a vaccine or medication in response to a public health emergency. An EUA may be granted for therapies that “may be effective,” or with a lower level of evidence than would otherwise be required for full FDA approval. The FDA reviewed two to three months of safety and efficacy data before issuing an EUA for the COVID-19 vaccines. In December 2020, the FDA authorized Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines for emergency use in the United States.

Currently, the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available in the United States. The data suggests that all three vaccines reduce deaths, hospitalizations, symptoms and transmission. If you decide to get vaccinated, it is recommended that you take whichever vaccine you can get first.

It is not known yet when the vaccines will have full FDA approval.

There were many factors that helped the COVID-19 vaccines get developed so rapidly. Significant resources were invested to fund the basic research and clinical trials, greatly speeding up the timeline. Instead of developing new trial sites, scientists joined existing ones; thus, saving time. Additionally, the amount of infection in the communities allowed scientists to quickly compare vaccinated to unvaccinated populations and conclusively show the vaccine worked. Last, but not least, the large number of brave volunteers willing to try the “novel” vaccines during the clinical trials helped accelerate the process.

According to medical experts, including current and former U.S. Surgeon Generals, there is no reason to believe that the vaccines that have been developed will not be effective against new virus strains as well.

There are no plans at the state levels to mandate vaccinations.

The vaccines in trial have been tested in tens of thousands of people and have passed safety requirements. None of the current vaccines have reported any serious adverse effects during their initial clinical trial phases.

Vaccine safety monitoring systems are in place to collect side effects data. If an unexpected adverse event is seen, experts quickly study it further to assess whether it is a true safety concern. Experts then decide whether changes are needed in U.S. vaccine recommendations. This monitoring is critical to help ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive vaccines.

While not seen in all people who get vaccinated, common side effects can include injection site soreness, diarrhea, fever, muscle aches and chills. Most vaccine-related side effects last one to two days. Side effects may be more frequent in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which require two shots, after the second shot and less frequent among older adults. Additionally, the current vaccines have not identified any specific safety concerns among people based on age, race, ethnicity or underlying medical conditions. Most side effects are signs that your body is recognizing the vaccine and mounting a response, so you can stay healthy.

As for long-term side effects of the vaccines, they are unknown. The long-term side effects of vaccines are rare. Vaccine studies are ongoing, and they will continue to be monitored and watched for adverse side effects.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses separated by at least three or four weeks depending on which vaccine you receive. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one shot. At this time, it is not known whether follow-up or annual vaccinations will be required for COVID-19 like they are for the flu.

Like any vaccine, there is no guarantee that you will not get the virus, but early indications are that the current vaccines are effective in protecting against severe COVID-19, death and hospitalization.  If you are vaccinated and still become infected, it is believed you are likely to have mild if any disease.

No. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. That’s because the vaccine does not use live virus and therefore cannot cause COVID-19. 

The first dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines only offer some protection from getting the virus; thus, the recommendation is to receive two doses to be protected.

Yes. At this time, it is recommended that even if you get vaccinated, you should continue to wear a mask (even two masks), wash your hands, physically distance at least six feet apart and avoid large gatherings (especially indoors) likely until most people are immune to COVID-19 and cases in the community have decreased significantly.

Yes.

You should consider getting vaccinated because some people who have had the virus are getting reinfected. Also, it is unclear how long immunity lasts after having COVID-19 and it may vary from person to person.

What you need to provide will vary for each vaccinator. Just like a regular doctor’s appointment, you should call ahead to ask what you will need to provide. Examples may include a driver’s license and insurance provider information, if applicable.

Your healthcare information will be safe. It cannot and should not be used in unethical ways. Limited personal information is reported from your local vaccination site to state and federal government. 

At this time, students are not required to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It may be some time before one is approved and becomes available for children.