Frequently Asked Questions
1) What are the risks of getting a COVID vaccine?
2) Can I get COVID from a COVID vaccine?
3) What are the ingredients in COVID vaccines?
5) Are the COVID shots given to children the same as those given to adults?
6) If I am pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, can I get a COVID vaccine?
7) If I’ve already had COVID, do I still need a vaccine?
8) Do I need to wait after having a flu vaccine before getting a COVID vaccine?
9) I am allergic to eggs; is it safe to receive the flu vaccine?
10) How can I get a copy of my vaccination records?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
1) What are the risks of getting a COVID vaccine?
Worldwide, over 13.5 billion COVID vaccines have been administered to date. Some common side effects for both adults and children include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. Serious side effects are rare but may occur. Accurately answering the screening questions on the consent form before getting a shot will reduce the chance of a serious side effect.
2) Can I get COVID from a COVID vaccine?
No. COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19. These vaccines work by using a harmless piece of spike protein from the virus causing COVID-19 to teach the body how to fight the virus that causes it. The body then gets rid of the harmless spike protein within a few days after vaccination.
3) What are the ingredients in COVID vaccines?
Vaccine ingredients vary by manufacturer. None of the vaccines contain eggs, gelatin, latex, or preservatives. All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth alloys. They are also free from manufactured products such as microelectronics, electrodes, carbon nanotubes, and nanowire semiconductors. There are no food proteins such as eggs or nuts, no preservatives such as thimerosal or mercury, no antibiotics, no other medications, and no animal or human tissue included in any approved COVID vaccine. None of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved in the US contain any live virus.
4) Since I can still get and spread COVID even if I have a vaccine, what is the point of getting vaccinated?
You are significantly less likely to get COVID if you are vaccinated, though breakthrough infections are not infrequent. If you do get COVID after vaccination, you are significantly less likely to spread it to others and many times less likely to get seriously ill, be hospitalized, need intensive care, or die. You are also less likely to get long COVID if you have been vaccinated.
5) Are the COVID shots given to children the same as those given to adults?
The COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as the vaccines given to adults. However, children receive a smaller and more age-appropriate dose that is right for them. The smaller doses were rigorously tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group.
6) If I am pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, can I get a COVID vaccine?
Yes, COVID vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant now, as well as people who might become pregnant in the future. People with COVID during pregnancy are more likely to deliver a preterm (earlier than 37 weeks) or stillborn infant and may also be more likely to have other pregnancy complications.
COVID vaccination during pregnancy helps prevent severe illness and death in people who are pregnant and helps protect babies younger than 6 months old from hospitalization caused by COVID.
7) If I’ve already had COVID, do I still need a vaccine?
You should get a COVID vaccine even if you already had COVID.
Getting a COVID vaccine after you recover from COVID infection provides added protection. You may consider delaying your vaccine by 3 months from symptom onset or the date of your positive test.
People who had COVID and do not get vaccinated after infection are more likely to get COVID again than those who get vaccinated after infection.
8) Do I need to wait after having a flu vaccine before getting a COVID vaccine?
There is no recommended waiting period between getting a COVID vaccine and other vaccines. You can get a COVID vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.
9) I am allergic to eggs; is it safe to receive the flu vaccine?
Flu vaccine is safe for most people with an egg allergy; however, please check with your doctor.
10) How can I get a copy of my vaccination records?
Visit MyVaxRecords to get a COVID-19 digital vaccine card or a copy of your vaccination record.