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FAQs about the COVID-19 Vaccines

Published: June 03, 2021
Revised: November 09, 2022

As vaccine supply increases and more people are eligible for vaccination, many people have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some answers to these questions based on the current research and advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices currently recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all individuals over the age of 6 months. There are different types of COVID-19 vaccines available and based on you past experiences or other disease states, certain vaccines may be recommended for you. The COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the U.S. have been shown to be safe and effective at preventing COVID-19.  Information from clinical studies show that vaccination provides protection from infection from the virus or can prevent more serious disease, if infected. If you have had COVID-19, it is still unknown how long and to what extent you are protected after recovering from COVID-19, and it is possible to be infected with COVID-19 again. So even if you had COVID-19 you should still get vaccinated.

How long does it take for protection from the vaccine to kick in?
Protection from the vaccine is considered fully developed two weeks after your final COVID-19 shot (two weeks after the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine and 2 weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine).

Are COVID-19 vaccines still being studied?
Researchers have reported that these vaccines are effective to prevent serious illness and death from COVID-19 and also to reduce the spread of the disease. However, more study is needed to know how long the vaccines will protect people from COVID-19 and how well they protect against changes in the virus over time.

Summary
Even if you have had COVID-19, it is still important to get vaccinated. The vaccine remains recommended for everyone unless your doctor tells you not to be vaccinated. It does take two weeks after your final COVID-19 shot to develop full protection. Recommendations from the CDC may change as experts continue to learn more about COVID-19 from clinical studies and from monitoring disease activity.

 

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