Vaccines are here. What you need to know.
How the COVID-19 vaccines work
• COVID-19 vaccines help your body develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19
without you getting the virus.
• Different vaccines work in different ways, but all types of vaccines teach the body how to
fight the virus in the future and build immunity.
• It can take a few weeks for your body to build immunity after getting a COVID-19 vaccine
or second vaccine in 2 dose series.
• It’s possible that you could get COVID-19 just before or after being fully vaccinated, but it
is not possible to get COVID-19 from any of the vaccines being used or tested in the
United States.
Benefits of getting vaccinated
• COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know
how it will affect you. Getting vaccinated will help keep you from getting COVID-19.
• Based on what we know, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help
keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
• Getting vaccinated may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased
risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults and people with medical
conditions.
• Getting vaccinated and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others
provide the best protection from COVID-19.
Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?
• Yes. The COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States meet FDA’s rigorous
standards for safety and effectiveness.
• The FDA authorized the COVID-19 vaccines for the public only after tens of thousands
of volunteers took them safely during medical studies.
• Since becoming available, tens of millions of people have safely received a vaccine.
• The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be closely monitored for safety and effectiveness.
What are the possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines?
• Most people don’t experience any side effects. But when they occur, they are usually mild and last at most a few
days. Possible side effects include:
o Soreness or swelling at the
injection site
o Fever
o Chills
o Feeling tired
o Headache
• These reactions are normal and mean the vaccine is working to help teach your body how to fight COVID-19 if you
are exposed.
• If you have pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about taking an over-the counter pain relief medicine, such as
ibuprofen or acetaminophen, after you’ve been vaccinated.
When Can I Receive a Vaccine?
Vaccines are here now and everyone age 12 and older in the United States can get them.
You have three ways to find vaccines near you:
• Go to vaccines.gov
• Text your ZIP code to 438829
• Call 1-800-232-0233
Key points
• Vaccines are here now and everyone age 12 and older in the United States can get them. This is no time to let down your guard. Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available to us. Getting vaccinated and following the CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others provide the best protection from COVID-19.