Common Questions
What people want to know about the ongoing vaccine studies.
FAQ´s
Vaccines
It is true that vaccines often have side effects, but those are typically temporary (like a sore arm, low fever, muscle aches and pains) and go away after a day or two. Many studies have proven that there is no link between vaccines and autism.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more answers to questions about Vaccine Safety such as:
Is it safe for me to get the vaccine if I am pregnant or breast feeding?
Is it safe if I have an underlying medical condition?
Is there a risk of allergic reaction?
It is true that the search for vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against COVID-19 has been happening very quickly, but we’re not cutting any corners or skipping any steps. Read COVID-19 Vaccines: How Did We Get Them So Fast? to learn more.
Usually, the 2nd dose of an mRNA vaccine will cause more noticeable side effects, but everyone’s experience is different.
Usually, the 2nd dose of an mRNA vaccine will cause more noticeable side effects, but everyone’s experience is different.
The risk of allergic reaction is extremely low. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of allergic reactions or anaphylaxis before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
There are guidelines in place that may require you to be observed for more than 15 minutes after vaccination in the event of a reaction so that it can be immediately treated.
7 Relevant statistics
Pfizer: 21 cases of allergic reaction with 2 million doses delivered (0.001%). In 15 of those 21 cases, the reaction occurred within 15 minutes.
Moderna: 10 cases of allergic reaction with 4 million doses delivered (0.0003%). In 9 of those 10 cases, the reaction occurred within 15 minutes.
No, it is not possible for the mRNA vaccines to impact a person’s DNA in any way. mRNA is a piece of genetic code that tells the muscle cells to make the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 and display it for the immune system to see. You can think of this like a recipe for making food, which has the step by step directions. The vaccine doesn’t have any real ingredients that could cause infection, just the instructions. The vaccine goes to work in the outer part of muscle cells, and does not cross into the nucleus, where people’s DNA is located. You may also know that the mRNA vaccines need to be stored at very cold temperatures to keep them stable. This is because when they heat up, the mRNA starts to fall apart. Once the vaccine is given to a person, it starts to heat up in the body, and it dissolves within 1-3 days.
on with 2 million doses delivered (0.001%). In 15 of those 21 cases, the reaction occurred within 15 minutes.
Moderna: 10 cases of allergic reaction with 4 million doses delivered (0.0003%). In 9 of those 10 cases, the reaction occurred within 15 minutes.
Yes. People who want to get pregnant in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Based on current knowledge, experts believe that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to pose a risk to a person trying to become pregnant in the short or long term. Scientists study every vaccine carefully for side effects immediately and for years afterward, and people who get vaccinated track their symptoms. The COVID-19 vaccines are being studied carefully now, and the side effects data will continue to be studied for many years, similar to other vaccines.
There is currently no evidence that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause any problems with pregnancy. In addition, there is no evidence suggesting that fertility problems are a side effect of ANY vaccine. People who are trying to become pregnant now or who plan to try in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has answers to more questions you may have. Find answers on the CDC website:
Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
FAQ about COVID-19 Vaccinations
COVID-19
COVID-19 can affect anyone, regardless of their race or ethnicity. However, data show that it is disproportionately impacting Black/African American, Latinx, and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian populations. This is largely due to social and structural factors that impact some communities more than others. These factors include poverty, poor housing conditions, challenges with accessing medical care, and limited resources, among others.
No. Antibiotics help stop bacterial infections and are not effective against viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
No. Some people who do get SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, experience flu-like symptoms. COVID-19 currently has a higher death rate than the flu and appears to be more contagious than the flu.2 We do not know yet whether COVID-19 will change with the seasons like influenza. In the US, the CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and over receive an influenza vaccine every year.
Yes. Scientists have found that people who have SARS-CoV-2 and have no symptoms (i.e., asymptomatic) can still pass along SARS-CoV-2 to others. In fact, people infected with SARS-CoV-2 seem to be most infectious before they even show signs and symptoms.
SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted in all areas, including hot/humid and cold climates.
While gargling with warm saltwater can make a sore throat feel better, it has no effect on SARS-CoV-2.
There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, going to the bathroom, and before eating or preparing food. When in public, wear a well-fitting multi-layer cloth face mask that covers your mouth and nose. You may also want to consider wearing 2 masks, which can offer additional protection if your mask is a little loose and doesn’t fit snugly around your nose and mouth. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.2 Stay 6 feet apart from other people when you are out in public.
No. You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms, which can include: -Fever -Cough -Shortness of breath -Chills -Sore throat -New loss of taste and/or smell Seek medical attention immediately if you or someone you have been exposed to has emergency warning signs, including: -Trouble breathing -Persistent pain or pressure in the chest -New confusion or not able to be woken up (from sleep) -Bluish lips or face This list of symptoms is NOT all inclusive and is being updated as new information becomes available. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Sources
- World Health Organization, Coronavirus advice for the public: Myth busters
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coronavirus COVID-19
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Continues to Facilitate Development of Treatments
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, COVID-19 Myths vs. Realities
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, Coronavirus Disease 2019: Myth vs. Fact
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventions: What to Do if You Have an Allergic Reaction After Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventions: Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 21, 2020–January 10, 2021
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventions: Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 14–23, 2020