| Q: How do we know vaccines are safe? |
A: All the COVID-19 vaccines being used have gone through rigorous studies to ensure they are as safe as possible. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the vaccines for emergency use and found no serious safety concerns. Independent experts confirmed the vaccines met high safety and efficacy standards. Systems that allow CDC to watch for safety issues are in place across the entire country.
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| Q: What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine? |
A: You may have mild, short-term side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This is normal and means your body is building protection against the virus. Some people have no side effects, but the vaccine is still building protection. Common side effects can include:
• Soreness or redness where you got the shot
• Headache
• Tiredness
• A low fever (less than 100.4)
Side effects usually go away on their own within a few days.
If you received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, you should still get the second dose even if you have side effects after the first dose, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to. For many people, the side effects are more noticeable after the second dose. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose.
You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines do not contain live virus.
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| Q: Will I be charged for the vaccine? |
| A: COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost. The federal government will cover the cost of your COVID-19 vaccine. You should not be charged an administration fee. Also, your provider should not charge or bill you if you only go in to get vaccinated. |
| Q: Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to get the vaccine? |
| A: No. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to get the COVID-19 vaccine. You do not need a social security number, or other documents with your immigration status, to get the vaccine. Some vaccine providers might ask for a social security number, but you do not have to give one. |
| Q: Why am I being asked to show my insurance card? |
| A: When you get the COVID-19 vaccine, your provider may ask if you have an insurance card. This is so they can get reimbursed for giving you the vaccine. If you do not have insurance coverage, tell your provider. You will still get the vaccine at no-cost. |
| Q: If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated? |
| A: Yes. You should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible — although rare — that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. |
| Q: Should I wait to get vaccinated if I had COVID-19 and recovered? |
| A: If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions . Experts are still learning more about how long vaccines protect against COVID-19 in real-world conditions. |
| Q: How long does it take until the vaccine is fully working? |
| A: It typically takes two weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or after the second vaccine dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. |
| Q: Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact if I've been fully vaccinated? |
A: Yes, in most cases. Even after you get vaccinated, you should continue to wear face coverings when around people you don’t live with, stay at least 6 feet from others, avoid gatherings and wash your hands frequently.
Many people in our state will need to wait months to get the vaccine, and masks and other prevention measures are still recommended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to people who are not yet vaccinated.
In some situations, recommendations for fully vaccinated people may be different. Find out what it means to be fully vaccinated and learn about current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccines.
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