COVID-19 Vaccines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for three COVID-19 vaccines.
- Pfizer
- Moderna
- Janssen
Vaccine safety is a top priority
COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials.
The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Learn how the federal government is working to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
How COVID-19 Vaccines Work?
Vaccines help our immune system fight infections in the future. COVID-19 vaccines will protect us from the virus that causes COVID-19 without having to get the illness.
It typically takes a few weeks after the last dose in a series to become fully protected. On the days after taking the vaccine, you may have a sore arm, aches, fatigue or fever, but these are not harmful. These symptoms signal that your immune system is developing protection from the virus.
Moderna and Pfizer are out are not live virus vaccines. This means that they cannot give you COVID-19. After getting the vaccine, you will not shed live virus around your home or put others in your household at risk of COVID-19 disease. The vaccine will not affect a PCR COVID-19 test. They were made using mRNA technology. mRNA stands for messenger ribonucleic acid. mRNA is not able to alter or modify a person’s genetic makeup (DNA). Learn more about mRNA vaccines at CDC: Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines.
Jansen/Johnson and Johnson (J&J) are viral vector vaccine. Viral vector vaccines contain a modified version of a different virus. Inside the shell of the modified virus, there is material from the virus that causes COVID-19. Once the viral vector is inside our cells, the genetic material prompts our bodies to fight off the virus if we are infected in the future. Learn more about viral vector vaccine at CDC: Understanding Viral Vector COVID-19 Vaccine
For more information about ingredients found in vaccines, check out the FDA website. For specific concerns about certain ingredients, get factual information from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Vaccine Education Center or Immunization Action Coalition: Talking About Vaccine.
Why We Need a Vaccine
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will be one of the best ways to protect yourself and everyone around you. The more people who get vaccinated against COVID-19, the better it is for everyone. More people vaccinated means that there will be less disease in our communities.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of the most important steps to protect yourself and your community. By stopping the spread of COVID-19, we can keep businesses, schools, and other venues open. Stopping the spread of COVID-19 gets us closer to the end of the pandemic.