Can Children get the Vaccine?
Youth 5 and older can get vaccinated. COVID vaccine clinical trials focusing on younger children are underway.
How will the Vaccination be Given?
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are given in two doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is given in one dose. All the vaccines are injected with a needle into the upper arm, just like a flu shot. Booster shots are recommended, regardless of what vaccine you had originally.
Is the Vaccine Safe?
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of people in clinical trials. The vaccines met FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality.
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccine. Over 63 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were given from December 2020 - February 21, 2021 with the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
For more details, please refer to the linked articles on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines: (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson).
Can I get COVID from the Vaccine?
No, it is not possible to get infected with COVID from these vaccines.
Because no vaccine is 100% effective, it is still possible to get COVID even after you are vaccinated. But the research shows that people who get the vaccine can fight off the virus more effectively if they get infected.
What are the Side Effects of the Vaccine?
Vaccines can have side effects, which are usually mild. At this time, the side effects of the COVID vaccine appear to be similar to those of other vaccines, including fever or other flu-like symptoms. CHA, along with state and federal health authorities, will carefully monitor patients for any side effects of the COVID vaccine.
Some people experience soreness where they get the shot and others develop mild flu-like symptoms for a day or two. When your body has these kinds of responses, it’s a sign that the vaccine is working. You are creating antibodies to the disease. Long term side effects are extremely rare from vaccines. There are much greater health risks from getting COVID than getting vaccinated.
Are the Vaccines Safe for People of Color?
All the vaccine clinical trials included people of color in their research. For example, 10% of people in the Moderna clinical trial were Black and 20% were LatinX. In the Johnson & Johnson clinical trial almost 20% were Black and over 45% were Hispanic or LatinX. Data shows all vaccines are safe for these communities.
Since people of color are impacted at higher rates from COVID-19 than white people, we want to make sure everyone in these communities gets the COVID vaccine. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and help your community address inequity.
Were the Vaccines Developed Quickly?
The mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) vaccines were developed more quickly than other vaccines, but there are reasons for this. First, technology had been in development for over a decade. Second, because of the pandemic, resources around the world were redirected to vaccine development, rather than focusing on other areas of research. We are lucky that the vaccine was able to be developed quickly, but no steps were skipped in the regular development and authorization processes.
How can I Trust Information I Get About the Vaccines?
Check your sources. The best place to get vaccine information is from government websites like the MA Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control. You can also check credible publications that have scientific, peer reviewed research. The research results show that these vaccines are highly effective in protecting you from COVID-19 after 2 doses.
Will the Shots be Free?
The vaccine will be given at no cost to you. Your insurance company may be billed for covering the cost of giving it to you.
If I Already had COVID, do I Need to Get the Vaccine?
Yes. The CDC recommends that people get vaccinated regardless of whether they already had COVID. This is because we do not yet know how long you are protected from a second infection after you recover from the first.
If I have Allergies, or an Underlying Medical Condition. Should I Get the Vaccine?
People with allergies or underlying medical conditions can get a COVID vaccine as long as they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID.
I had Guillain-Barre. Can I get the COVID vaccine?
There have been no cases of Guillain-Barre (GBS) reported after the COVID vaccine. The CDC guidance is that people with a history of GBS can receive the vaccine.
I had Bell’s Palsy. Can I get the COVID Vaccine?
There have been cases of Bell’s Palsy reported in the vaccine trials but the rates are so low that the FDA cannot conclude that they are even related to the COVID vaccine, or just random. The CDC guidance is that people with a history of Bell’s palsy can receive the vaccine.
I have had Facial Fillers. Can I get the COVID Vaccine?
Temporary swelling of areas surrounding facial or lip fillers have been reported with the Moderna vaccine. This has not been reported with the Pfizer vaccine. This was included in the FDA document about the Moderna vaccine. All three cases were mild and localized. This is not a reason to not get the vaccine.
Why get the Vaccine if we can Just use Masks and Social Distancing?
We need to use all tools available to stop this pandemic. Masks and social distancing work, but they are not perfect, and some people still get sick. Adding all of our resources together is what will stop the virus from spreading.
How Long Will I Need to Wear a Mask?
As long as COVID rates are high, we should continue wearing masks, especially in high risk settings - inside where there are a lot of people. If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing some of the activities you stopped doing because of the pandemic. Outdoor activities are the safest. Keep informed about what you can do safely from the CDC.