FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

If you've got questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, you're not the only one.

COVID-19 VACCINE: 4 things to know

1. Safety is a top priority.

Safety is a top priority while federal partners work to make COVID‑19 vaccines available. The new COVID‑19 vaccines have been evaluated in tens of thousands of volunteers during clinical trials. The vaccines are only authorized for use if they are found to be safe.

Even though they found no safety issues during the clinical trials, CDC and other federal partners will continue to monitor the new vaccines. They watch out for serious side effects (or “adverse events”) using vaccine safety monitoring systems, like the new V‑safe After Vaccination Health Checker app.
2. The vaccines are highly effective.

All but one of the COVID‑19 vaccines currently in development need two shots to be effective. You will need two doses from the same manufacturer, spaced 21 or 28 days apart. You will get full protection from the vaccine usually 1–2 weeks after getting your second dose.

After you get the vaccine, you will still need to keep wearing a mask, social distance, and wash hands often. That’s because stopping a pandemic requires all the tools we have. All these efforts combined will offer the best protection from COVID‑19 and help us get “back to normal” sooner.
3. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

COVID‑19 vaccines do not use the live virus and cannot give you COVID‑19. The vaccine does not alter your DNA. COVID‑19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an immune response without having to experience sickness.

Having symptoms like fever after you get a vaccine is normal and a sign your immune system is building protection against the virus. The side effects from COVID‑19 vaccination may feel like flu, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what side effects to expect and get helpful tips on how to reduce pain and discomfort after your vaccination.
4. COVID vaccines do not impact fertility.

There is no evidence COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility in women or men -- despite what you may be hearing on social media.

Leading women’s reproductive professional organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine continue to recommend the vaccines in a joint statement:

“As experts in reproductive health, we continue to recommend that the vaccine be available to pregnant individuals. We also assure patients that there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility. While fertility was not specifically studied in the clinical trials of the vaccine, no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization, and no signs of infertility appeared in animal studies. Loss of fertility is scientifically unlikely.”

The Society for Male Reproduction and Urology and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction released a similar statement.

Evidence does show that unvaccinated, pregnant women are at increased risk for severe illness if they contract COVID-19.

If you have concerns, discuss your options with your personal physician.

Is the vaccine safe?

Every COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use in the United States is safe. These vaccines continue to undergo extensive safety monitoring. Tens of millions of people nationwide have safely received COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine development has followed a thorough review process. Although the development timeline for COVID-19 vaccines has been considerably shortened compared to other vaccine development timelines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has emphasized that the same strict quality, safety and efficacy guidelines are being met.
Is the vaccine safe for minority populations?

A diverse pool of participants was included in the clinical trials. More than 70,000 patients enrolled in clinical trials, and 37% of clinical trial volunteers were from racial and ethnic minority populations.
Why was this vaccine able to be released so quickly?

The available vaccines have been authorized for use under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The FDA can issue an EUA during a public health emergency for vaccines that have been proven safe and effective in large (phase III) clinical trials and when certain criteria has been met.
Am I receiving the COVID virus from the vaccine?

The vaccine will not give you COVID-19. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States use the live virus that causes COVID-19. You may have symptoms like a fever after you get any vaccine. This is normal and a sign that your immune system is learning how to recognize and fight the virus.
Is the vaccine going to prevent me from getting sick?

The vaccines are more than 94% effective according to Pfizer and Moderna. These vaccines are given in two shots, one at a time and spaced apart. If you are told you need two shots, make sure you get them both.
Will the vaccine change my DNA?

The vaccines will not change your DNA. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are a new type of vaccine that teaches our cells how to make a harmless protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response produces antibodies that protect us from the virus. Our cells break down the mRNA soon after using the instructions.
Are the vaccines free?

The COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of your immigration or health insurance status.
What are the benefits of getting the vaccine?
- Your chance of being hospitalized with COVID-19 becomes almost zero
- COVID-19 cases will drop, and schools and businesses will safely reopen
- Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19

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Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.