Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 vaccines protect people from getting very sick from COVID-19 and ending up in the hospital or dying. They also reduce the risk of becoming chronically ill from COVID-19 (such as long COVID), and from missing work and school.

In addition, getting vaccinated lowers the risk of giving COVID-19 to other people. This is especially helpful in protecting people at higher risk of getting very sick.

It is recommended that people who've had COVID-19 in the past still get the vaccine to strengthen their immunity and to reduce their risk of getting hospitalized with COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccines work very well at protecting against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Compared to people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, unvaccinated people are more likely to get COVID-19, much more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, and much more likely to die from COVID-19.

Experts are seeing that the protection can weaken over time, especially for certain groups, such as people ages 65 years and older and people with weak immune systems. This is why staying up to date with all recommended doses, including booster doses is important. The updated (bivalent) boosters help restore protection that has decreased over time. (See Booster Doses for more information.)

As the science and the virus evolves, so do vaccine recommendations. Scientists and medical experts continue to closely watch for signs of decreased immunity in people of different ages and with different risk factors. They also look at how well the vaccines protect against new variants of the virus.

Four COVID-19 vaccines are approved or authorized in the in the US to prevent COVID-19. They are made by Pfizer-BioNTech (brand name Comirnaty), Moderna (brand name Spikevax), Novavax, and Johnson & Johnson. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are authorized for people age 6 months and older. The Novavax vaccines are authorized for people ages of 12 years and older. The Johnson & Johnson (J&J vaccines are authorized for adults ages 18 and over.

The CDC recommends the Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines over the J&J vaccine. The J&J vaccine can be considered in some situations.

To learn more, visit the CDC Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.

Monovalent vaccines target the original virus that causes COVID-19. The vaccines were updated to make bivalent vaccines that target both the original COVID-19 virus and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants.

• Primary series doses - Monovalent vaccines are used as the primary series for all vaccines with one exception. A bivalent vaccine is used for dose 3 of a primary series of Pfizer vaccine for children ages 6 months–4 years.
• Booster doses - All Pfizer and Moderna booster doses are bivalent (updated) vaccines. The Novavax booster dose is a monovalent vaccine.

Vaccines are available at hundreds of locations throughout LA County such as clinics, pharmacies, schools, and other community locations. In-home vaccination is available for people who are homebound. Many locations do not require an appointment.

To find a location, visit ph.lacounty.gov/howtogetvaccinated. If you need help, you can call the DPH Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-540-0473, 7 days a week from 8am to 8:30pm. They can arrange in-home vaccination, free transportation to a vaccination site, or help with paratransit and other services for people with disabilities. You can also request an in-home vaccination at ph.lacounty.gov/vaxathome. Information is also available in multiple languages 24/7 by calling 2-1-1.

No. If you have insurance, your doctor or pharmacy may charge your insurance company a fee for giving the vaccine. People without health insurance can also get COVID-19 vaccines at no cost. There are no out-of-pocket payments for anyone.

No. COVID-19 vaccine is being given at no cost regardless of immigration status. Your medical information is private and getting a COVID-19 vaccine does not affect your immigration status. You do not need a government-issued ID or a letter from your employer to get a vaccine. For questions about immigration, visit the Office of Immigrant Affairs webpage oia.lacounty.gov or call 800-593-8222.

No. When you get a vaccine, you will be asked to give an email address or mobile phone number. This information will be entered into the State of California immunization registry (CAIR) so that you can get a digital COVID-19 vaccine record. It may also be used to send reminders when more COVID-19 vaccine doses are due. The digital vaccine record is a free and convenient way to prove your vaccination status. It is especially useful if you lose your white vaccine card. You don’t need to provide your email address or mobile phone number to get a vaccine, but not providing this information may make it harder to get a digital vaccine record later. You can learn more about the digital vaccination record at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov and about the confidentiality protections here.

The CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (white card) is the official proof of vaccination. Everyone should be given one when they are vaccinated. Please keep it safe as it cannot be replaced. Consider taking a photo or making a photocopy of it.

Everyone who is vaccinated in California can request a digital COVID-19 Vaccination Record at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov. This is also an official record. It can be downloaded to the Google Pay digital wallet on an Android phone or the Apple Health app on an iPhone. You can also take a screenshot of your Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record and save it to your camera roll. You can get a record for each person in your family. even if you used the same email address or mobile phone number when they got vaccinated. For more information, visit the Vaccination Records webpage.

*If you were vaccinated by a federal agency (e.g., Department of Defense, Indian Health Service or Veterans Affairs), you must request a vaccine record from the agency directly.

Youth under 18 need consent from a parent/guardian or caregiver to get vaccinated. If you cannot be present, you may be allowed to give consent by phone, video, or in writing. Check the consent requirements of the place where you plan to go. If it is a location run by Public Health, you can see the requirements and download a consent form at ph.lacounty.gov/howtogetvaccinated - click on ‘preparing for your visit’ or call the Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-540-0473 (8am-8:30pm daily).

Some exceptions apply. Minors ages 15 years or older who are self-sufficient (e.g., emancipated or self-sufficient minor, married, or previously married) can give their own consent. If you are a foster caregiver, relative caregiver, or Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) staff you can provide consent as long as the foster child agrees. If you are a foster caregiver and you do not give consent but your foster child wants to get a vaccine, they can contact their legal counsel.

Photo ID may be required at some vaccination locations. If you are a guardian of a child in foster care who does not have a photo ID, have them contact their legal counsel. Another option is to go to a location run by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which does not require a photo ID.

See above for information about consent. Check the requirements of the place you plan to go to. For the requirements at LA County Department of Public Health vaccine sites, visit ph.lacounty.gov/howtogetvaccinated - click on ‘preparing for your visit’ or call the Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-540-0473 (8am-8:30pm daily).

Yes. You should get vaccinated even if you already had COVID-19 because the vaccine can help to prevent you from getting COVID-19 again.

Getting COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness with COVID-19, sometimes called “natural immunity.” But the level of protection someone gets from infection varies. It depends on how mild or severe their illness was, the amount of time that has passed since they had COVID-19, and their age. There is currently no test that can reliably tell if a person is protected from getting COVID-19. People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery.

If you currently have COVID-19, wait until after you have recovered and your isolation period is over to get vaccinated. This is so you don’t infect healthcare workers and others when you go to get your vaccine.

You may consider waiting for 3 months after you first got COVID-19 to start or continue a COVID-19 vaccine series or get a booster. This is because you are unlikely to get COVID-19 again within the first 3 months after infection. A longer time between infection and getting a vaccine may also result in a better immune response.

If you were sick with multisystem inflammatory syndrome of children or adults (MIS-C or MIS-A), talk with your doctor before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Yes. Adults and children age 6 months and over can get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as polio, measles, whooping cough, and flu. If your child gets a COVID-19 vaccine at a place that doesn’t offer the other vaccines that they need, you can go to a different location to get them at any time. There is no need to wait between vaccines.

Most routine medical procedures or screenings can be done before or after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Note: if you are due for a routine screening mammogram and have been recently vaccinated for COVID-19, ask your doctor how long you should wait before you get your mammogram. People who have received a COVID-19 vaccine may get swelling in the lymph nodes (called lymphadenopathy) in the underarm near where they got the shot. This swelling is a normal sign that the body is building protection against COVID-19. This temporary swelling could cause a false reading on a mammogram, so it is important to tell the staff about your vaccination. For more details, see the Society of Breast Imaging’s Recommendations for Women Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine can also affect the results of some kinds of screening tests for tuberculosis (TB), see the CDC webpage COVID-19 Vaccination and Other Medical Procedures.

• Remember to bring the required documentation and your email address or mobile phone number if you have one. If you made an appointment, read the information in the confirmation email. If you have any questions, it may be helpful to write them down.
• If you do not regularly take over-the-counter medicine (such as ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, or antihistamines), do not take them before you get a COVID-19 vaccination to try to prevent side effects. But if you take them regularly for other reasons, you should keep taking them before you get vaccinated.
• Pack a facemask, snack, and water. On warm days, if you are visiting an outdoor location, wear a hat and lightweight clothing.
• For tips about how to talk to your child about COVID-19 vaccination and prepare them to get a vaccine, see Getting Children Vaccinated in the LAC DPH COVID-19 vaccine FAQs.
• Make sure your vaccination provider updates your vaccination card (or gives you one if this is your first dose).
• Schedule your next dose of vaccine if you need one before you leave the vaccination site.
• Know that you may experience side effects after getting a vaccine. Adverse effects and severe allergic reactions are rare. To report any side effects, you can sign up for v-safe.

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all the recommended doses in the primary series and the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.

If you have completed your primary series, but are not yet eligible for a booster, you are also considered up to date. But when you become eligible for a booster dose, you are no longer up to date until you get that dose.

When people are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, they have the best protection from severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and death.

See the LAC DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule webpage at ph.lacounty.gov/covidvaccineschedules for information on all recommended primary and booster doses. For more details, see the CDC webpage, Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters.

Fully vaccinated is an older term that is not used very often anymore. It means having received all the recommended doses in the primary series only. It does not include a booster dose. Being fully vaccinated is not the same as having the best protection.

Being up to date means having gotten all recommended COVID-19 doses, including booster doses. People are best protected when they stay up to date with Covid-19 vaccinations, which includes getting a booster when eligible.

Booster doses are used for many different vaccines to provide continued protection against severe disease.

The COVID-19 vaccines continue to work well at protecting people from severe disease. Over time, however, the level of this protection can weaken. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster is important because it strengthens your immunity. This gives you better protection from getting very sick, being hospitalized, and even dying.

Get the booster dose that is recommended for you (see below).

An updated booster is also known as a “bivalent” booster. It is a vaccine that has been updated to target both the original strain of the COVID-19 virus as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants.

Updated boosters can help restore protection against COVID-19 that has decreased over time. They can also provide broader protection against newer variants.

All Pfizer and Moderna booster doses are updated (bivalent) vaccines. The original (monovalent) Pfizer and Moderna boosters are no longer available. The Novavax booster is an original (monovalent) vaccine.

The updated (bivalent) boosters are recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older, with one exception. Children 6 months though 4 years of age who finished a Pfizer vaccine primary series are not eligible for a booster dose at this time.

One updated booster is recommended at least 2 months after the last COVID-19 vaccine dose (either the final primary series dose or the last original [monovalent] booster). This is regardless of how many original (monovalent) boosters or which type of vaccine(s) were received in the past. Children ages 11 and under get a lower dose of the updated booster than teens and adults.

• Children age 5 who completed a Moderna primary series can get either a Pfizer or Moderna updated booster.
• Children age 5 who completed a primary series of Pfizer vaccine get the Pfizer updated booster.
• Everyone ages 6 and older can get either a Pfizer or Moderna updated booster.

• Children who completed a primary series of Moderna vaccine can get the Moderna updated booster.
• Children who completed a primary series of Pfizer vaccines are not eligible for a booster dose at this time. Note: the Pfizer primary series for this age group now includes a bivalent (updated) vaccine for the 3rd dose.

Alternative booster option for certain people ages 18 and older

People ages 18 and older can receive a Novavax (monovalent) vaccine as a booster instead of getting the recommended updated Pfizer or Moderna booster if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. They are unable or unwilling to receive an updated booster (for instance, if they are severely allergic to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines); AND
2. They have completed primary series vaccination; AND
3. They have never had a booster before.

The Novavax booster is given at least 6 months after completing the last dose of the primary series.

Visit the interactive Find Out When to Get a Booster tool on the CDC Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters webpage to see when you (or your child) can get a booster.

Talk to your doctor if you have questions.

Yes, you should get a booster if you have had COVID-19. It is recommended that you stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters even if you already had COVID-19. This is because vaccines provide added protection.

• If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying a vaccine dose (primary series or booster) by 3 months from when your symptoms started or when you first had a positive test (if you didn’t have any symptoms). Your risk of re-infection is less likely in the first few months after recent COVID-19 infection. A longer time between infection and getting a vaccine may also result in a better immune response. However, you should not put the dose off for more than 3 months and it would be safe to receive the vaccine earlier.
• If you have COVID-19 now, you should wait at least until you have finished isolation before getting a COVID-19 dose. This is so that you don’t spread COVID-19 to healthcare workers and others when you go to get vaccinated.

Reactions after booster doses are like those after primary doses. Most side effects are mild to moderate and last 2 days or less. As with the primary series, serious side effects are rare. For more details, visit the CDC webpage Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines. The benefits of getting a booster dose outweigh any known and potential risks.

No, you do not need a doctor’s note or prescription to get a booster dose. When you go to the location, take proof of vaccination such as your CDC white card or digital vaccination record. Visit the Public Health How to Get Vaccinated webpage for more information.

Vaccines work by preparing your body’s natural defenses to recognize and fight off germs that can make you sick. Vaccines may contain:

• Dead or weakened versions of the germ.
• Substances made to look like part of the germ.
• Substances that teach the body to make proteins that look like part of the germ

When you get any vaccine, your immune system responds by:

• Making antibodies. These are proteins produced naturally by the immune system to fight disease.
• Preparing your immune cells to respond to future infection.
• Remembering the disease and how to fight it. If you are exposed to the germ after getting the vaccine, your immune system can quickly destroy it and prevent you from getting infected or prevent you from getting seriously ill.

All 4 COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available in the US work by teaching our immune cells how to make copycat spike proteins (the crown-like spikes on the surface of the COVID-19 virus). Making the spike protein does not harm our cells.

• Our immune system sees the spike protein and knows that it doesn’t belong there.
• Our bodies react by building an immune response. It makes antibodies that can act against the COVID-19 virus’s spike protein and it prepares immune cells. This will protect us if we are exposed to the virus in the future.

The COVID-19 vaccines differ in how they teach our cells to make the spike protein

• The vaccine made by J&J/Janssen is called a viral vector vaccine. The vector (or vehicle) carries the genetic material to our cells. Our cells read the genetic material and make mRNA, and this mRNA teaches our cells to make the spike protein. The viral vector is a harmless version of a common cold virus. It can’t replicate inside our cells and it cannot change our DNA in any way.
• The vaccine made by Novavax is called a protein subunit vaccine. It contains pieces of the spike protein. The vaccine also contains an ‘adjuvant” to strengthen the body’s immune response. Adjuvants are used in many vaccines.

None of these COVID-19 vaccines contain the COVID-19 virus in any form - live, weakened, or dead. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccines.

No, none of COVID-19 vaccines available for use in the United States contain any fetal tissue or fetal cells.

• Pfizer and Moderna did not use any fetal cell lines to develop or produce their COVID-19 vaccines. But they did use a fetal cell line for laboratory testing before their vaccines were tested on people.
• Johnson & Johnson used a fetal cell line to develop and test their COVID-19 vaccine. They also use it for production. The COVID-19 vaccines themselves do not contain any fetal cells.

The fetal cell lines were made in laboratories from cells from 2 abortions conducted in 1973 and 1985. None of the fetal cells used came from a recent abortion or from an abortion done for the sole purpose of vaccine development or other research.

The Catholic Church has reviewed the use of fetal cells for this purpose and has stated that “it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.” If this issue is of concern to you, we encourage you to review the document COVID-19 Vaccine and Fetal Cell Lines carefully so you can make an informed decision about getting vaccinated.

People with moderately or severely weakened immune systems (e.g., blood-related cancers or certain treatments for cancer, organ transplants, and certain autoimmune conditions) are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. They are more likely to get COVID-19 than people with normal immune systems. And if they get infected, they are more likely to get very ill and also to spread the virus to others.

Some people with weak immune systems don’t respond as well to the COVID-19 vaccines as people with normal immune systems. They need to have more doses of vaccine to get the best protection.

It depends on your age and your COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

Primary series

• A Pfizer or Moderna primary series is 3 doses.
• A Novavax primary series is 2 doses.
• A J&J primary series is 1 dose of the J&J vaccine plus a dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Booster doses

• It is recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older gets one updated (bivalent) booster* dose, regardless of how many booster doses they had in the past. The exception is that children 6 months though 4 years of age who already had a bivalent Pfizer vaccine for the 3rd dose of their Pfizer vaccine primary series are not eligible for any booster dose at this time. See Booster Doses for more information.
  
  *People age 18 and older can choose to get a Novavax (monovalent) vaccine instead of an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) bivalent booster if they you are unable or unwilling to receive an mRNA booster AND they have never had a COVID-19 booster before.

Visit the interactive Find Out When to Get a Booster tool on the CDC Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters webpage to find out when you (or your child) are due for vaccines.

Ask your doctor about the best timing of your vaccine doses based on your current treatment plan. This is especially important if you are about to start or restart immunosuppressive treatment.

See the DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule at ph.lacounty.gov/covidvaccineschedules for information on all recommended primary and booster doses for people who are immunocompromised.

It is important to take other steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 in addition to getting the COVID-19 vaccine:

• Wear a protective mask such as a well-fitting respirator (e.g., N95, KN95, KF94) or a double mask for a higher level of protection. Avoid crowded indoor places or spaces with poor airflow when possible. For details, see ph.lacounty.gov/reducerisk and ph.lacounty.gov/masks.
• Encourage the people that you spend time with to help protect you. They should stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines including getting their updated booster, and take other steps to reduce their risk of getting and passing COVID-19 to you.
• If you start to feel sick, act quickly to take a COVID-19 test and get free COVID-19 treatment. If you do get COVID-19, there are medicines you can take to help lower your risk of getting very sick. Ask your doctor for treatment right away, even if your symptoms are mild. The medicines work best when they are given soon after symptoms start, so don’t delay. See ph.lacounty.gov/covidmedicines for more information including how to access free COVID-19 medication.

Common side effects after a COVID-19 vaccine include:

• Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the vaccine was given (or thigh for small children)
• Fever, chills
• Headache
• Feeling tired
• Fussiness or crying (small children)
• Muscle or joint pain
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Nausea, loss of appetite

These side effects may limit your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away within a day or two. Most people only get mild side effects and some people do not get any side effects at all.

Side effects are normal and a sign that the vaccine is working. It shows that your body is learning to fight the virus and is building immunity. It is important to get all the recommended doses even if you got side effects after an earlier dose unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to.

See CDC Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Reactions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine can vary from person to person. Most people in clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines had only mild side effects, and some of them had no side effects at all. Those people still had a strong immune response to the vaccine. Vaccination protects you from severe COVID-19 infection whether or not you have side effects after vaccination.

Yes, serious reactions can happen but are very rare. Vaccine safety monitoring systems have identified the four serious health problems, described below. The Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended over the J&J vaccine. One reason for this is because of a rare, but serious side effect linked with J&J vaccine. If you receive a vaccine, see Vaccine Side Effects to learn about possible symptoms to look out for.

• Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis is a rare but serious allergic reaction that can happen after taking a medication or getting any vaccine. If it happens, healthcare providers can effectively and immediately treat the reaction. Other less severe allergic reactions can also happen. Learn more on the CDC webpage Allergic Reactions after COVID-19 Vaccination.
• Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after J&J vaccine: TTS is a rare but serious, and sometimes fatal condition involving blood clots and low platelets. TTS has been reported across a wide age range in males and females who received the J&J vaccine. Women ages 18-49 years should especially be aware of the rare but increased risk of this adverse event. To learn more, visit the CDC’s Adverse Events Reported After COVID-19 Vaccination.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after J&J vaccine: GBS is a rare disorder where the body’s immune system damages nerve cells. This causes muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS, but some have permanent nerve damage. GBS has been reported in people who received the J&J vaccine. There were more cases in men, especially men age 50 and older. Nearly all of the people became ill within 6 weeks of getting the vaccine. Most became ill in the first 3 weeks. To learn more, visit the CDC’s Adverse Events Reported After COVID-19 Vaccination.
• Myocarditis and pericarditis after Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines: Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle and pericarditis is inflammation of the outer lining of the heart. Myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. Most people with myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination improve with medicine and rest and feel better quickly. People who experience these conditions can usually return to their normal daily activities after their symptoms improve.
  
  Pfizer and Moderna vaccines: Most of the cases have been reported after the second dose of vaccine. Male adolescents and young adults are more likely to be affected. Extending the time between 1^st and 2^nd doses has been shown to decrease the risk of myocarditis. This is one of the reasons why it is now recommended that teens and young adults consider getting the second dose 8 weeks after their first dose. The risk of myocarditis appears to be lower after a booster dose than after the second dose of vaccine.
  
  Children aged 6 months through 11 years receive lower doses of vaccine compared to people ages 12 and over. A recent report from the CDC found no increased risk for myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination in children ages 6 months–5 years. In a study published by the CDC, after approximately 8 million doses of pediatric Pfizer vaccine were given to children 5-11 years of age, 11 cases of myocarditis were reported and verified. Most of these cases were mild and recovered quickly.
  
  A study of people aged 5 and over found that the risk of heart complications, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and multi-system inflammatory disease (MIS-C) was higher after having COVID-19 infection than after getting one or more doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. This finding was seen in males and females of all ages. It is also important to note that vaccine-associated myocarditis is milder and does not last as long as myocarditis due to other causes.
  
  Novavax vaccine: Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported in people who received Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. Getting the 2nd dose of Novavax 8 weeks after the first may reduce the risk of these rare conditions.
  
  It is important to note that COVID-19 disease is associated with an increased risk of stroke, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), and cardiac death, as well as myocarditis and pericarditis.
• Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after J&J vaccine: TTS is a rare but serious, and sometimes fatal condition involving blood clots and low platelets. TTS has been reported across a wide age range in males and females who received the J&J vaccine. Women ages 18-49 years should especially be aware of the rare but increased risk of this adverse event. To learn more, visit the CDC’s Selected Adverse Events Reported After COVID-19 Vaccination.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after J&J vaccine: GBS is a rare disorder where the body’s immune system damages nerve cells. This causes muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS, but some have permanent nerve damage. GBS has been reported in people who received the J&J vaccine. There were more cases in men, especially men age 50 and older. Nearly all of the people became ill within 6 weeks of getting the vaccine. Most became ill in the first 3 weeks. To learn more, visit the CDC’s Selected Adverse Events Reported After COVID-19 Vaccination.

For more information, visit the CDC’s Selected Adverse Events Reported After COVID-19 Vaccination.

To date, over 603 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the US. Although side effects may happen, they are very rare. The benefits of staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks.

No. Long-term side effects are very unlikely. Based on what we know from other vaccines, long-term side effects happen within six weeks of getting vaccinated. For this reason, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required companies making COVID-19 vaccines to follow trial participants for at least eight weeks. And the participants in the vaccine trials continue to be followed even though the vaccines have been authorized/approved for use. In addition, the CDC continues to closely monitor COVID-19 vaccines after they are authorized/approved and licensed. It has been well over a year since COVID-19 vaccines have been widely available (and even longer since the start of the vaccine trials). Millions of people have received COVID-19 vaccines and no long-term side effects have been identified.

In contrast, we do know that the virus that causes COVID-19 can cause several long-term effects in both adults and in children. For example, some people continue to have symptoms such as feeling very tired, having difficulty sleeping, headaches, and shortness of breath for months after their initial COVID-19 infection, often referred to as long COVID. Further, a severe condition called Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome can affect children (MIS-C) and adults (MIS-A). MIS is a rare but serious condition associated with COVID-19 in which different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Many patients need to be hospitalized and, tragically, some die. COVID-19 vaccination offers protection against these “long-term” effects of the virus.

If you have an adverse event (possible side effect) after you are vaccinated, even if you aren't sure that the vaccine caused it, please report it to VAERS. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is an early warning system that the FDA and CDC use to detect possible safety problems. To make a report, call 1-800-822-7967 or visit https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html.

If you have signed up for V-Safe, CDC’s after-vaccination health checker, you can also report your symptoms through the smartphone app.

Neither VAERS nor V-safe provide medical advice. If you have symptoms or health problems that concern you at any time following COVID-19 vaccination, please contact your healthcare provider or seek medical treatment.

Nearly all the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are also ingredients in many foods – fats, sugars, and salts.

In addition:

• The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines contain messenger RNA (mRNA).
• The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine contains a version of a virus unrelated to the virus that causes COVID-19.
• The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine includes harmless pieces (proteins) of the virus that causes COVID-19; they are pieces of what is often called the spike protein.
  
  These ingredients give instructions to cells in your body to create an immune response. This response helps protect you from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future. After the body produces an immune response, it discards all the vaccine ingredients just as it would discard any information that cells no longer need. This process is a part of normal body functioning.
  
  The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine also contains an ‘adjuvant” to strengthen the body’s immune response. Adjuvants are used in many vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain ingredients like preservatives (like thimerosal or mercury), tissues (like aborted fetal cells or any materials from an animal), antibiotics, food proteins (like egg or nut products), medicines, latex, or metals.

Learn more about what ingredients are and are not in Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

No. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. None of the COVID-19 vaccines has the virus that causes COVID-19 in them. Sometimes people get a fever or feel tired for a day or two after getting a vaccine. These vaccine side effects are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity. They should go away in a few days.

No. Vaccines won’t cause you to test positive on a PCR or antigen viral test (swab or spit tests, including self-tests) that looks for current COVID-19 infection. You may test positive on some antibody (blood) tests. This is because the vaccines work by teaching your body to make antibodies.

See the public health testing webpage ph.lacounty.gov/covidtests to learn more about COVID-19 tests.

It depends.

• People who are allergic to things like oral medication, food (including eggs), latex, pets, or pollen, or people who have a family history of allergies, can be vaccinated.
• If you have had an allergic reaction to a vaccine or injectable therapy, even if it was not severe, talk to your doctor to decide if it is safe to get vaccinated.
• If you are allergic to Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), you should not get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Ask your doctor if you can get the J&J or Novavax vaccine.
• If you are allergic to polysorbate, you should not get the Novavax or J&J vaccine. Ask your doctor if you can get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

There is a small risk of anaphylaxis (a severe type of allergic reaction) with any vaccine.

Information about allergic reactions may change. Be sure to check the latest guidance on the CDC COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Allergies webpage and talk to your doctor.

Yes! The CDC and pregnancy experts, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives, recommend that pregnant people get vaccinated against COVID-19. For the best protection, this includes getting a booster dose as well as the primary vaccine series. The vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy.

COVID-19 is a serious concern during pregnancy. Pregnant and recently pregnant people who get COVID-19 are more likely to become severely ill, be hospitalized, and die compared to people who are not pregnant. In addition, people who get COVID-19 during pregnancy are more likely to get complications that can affect their pregnancy and developing baby. These include preterm birth and stillbirth.

COVID-19 vaccination protects both pregnant people and their newborns from severe illness from COVID-19. In studies of people who have received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, protective antibodies against the virus were found in the umbilical cord blood and in breastmilk. In addition, a recent study confirmed that vaccination during pregnancy was effective in protecting infants under the age of 6 months from being hospitalized due to COVID-19.

There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. The CDC continues to monitor people who have been vaccinated during all trimesters of pregnancy to better understand the effects on pregnancy and babies. Over a hundred thousand pregnant people who have been vaccinated have been monitored and no increased risk of pregnancy loss, growth problems, or birth defects has been found. COVID-19 vaccines do not cause COVID-19 infection, including in people who are pregnant or their babies. None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain live virus. They cannot make anyone sick with COVID-19, including people who are pregnant or their babies.

Evidence continues to build, showing that COVID-19 vaccination before and during pregnancy is safe and effective. It suggests that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.

For more information, visit smfm.org/covidfamily and the CDC webpage COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding.

If you are pregnant and have questions about getting vaccinated, talk to your doctor. You can also talk to experts at MotherToBaby who are available to answer questions in English or Spanish. This free and confidential service is available Monday–Friday 8am–5pm. You can call 866-626-6847, text 855.999.8525, e-mail ContactUs@mothertobaby.org or start a chat at mothertobaby.org/ask-an-expert/.

Yes! Experts, including the CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives recommend that people who are breastfeeding be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Lactating people were not included in the vaccine studies. However, based on what we know about how these vaccines work, the vaccines are not thought to be a risk for the baby. Recent studies have shown that breastfeeding people who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which might help to protect their babies. These vaccines do not pass into breastmilk.

Yes. The CDC and medical experts recommend vaccination for everyone aged 5 years and older. This includes people who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or who may want to get pregnant in the future as well as their partners.

There is no evidence that any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in females or males. There is also no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines affect puberty or teenage development.

A small study of 45 healthy men who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reviewed sperm characteristics before and after vaccination. Researchers looked at sperm quantity and movement and found no significant changes in these after vaccination. By comparison, a different study found a decrease in fertility for up to 60 days in men who were infected with COVID-19. This study of over 2,000 people also found no differences in pregnancy success rates in men and women who were vaccinated compared with those who weren’t. Many people have become pregnant after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information see the CDC webpage COVID-19 Vaccines for People Who Would Like to Have a Baby.

Some women have reported a change in their period after getting the COVID-19 vaccine such as late periods, heavier flow, and painful cramps. There is limited research on COVID-19 vaccination and the menstrual cycle. Two recent studies showed common, but minor, changes after COVID-19 vaccination. These included changes in the length of the menstrual cycle and the time between cycles as well as heavier bleeding than usual. These changes were temporary.

It is important to remember, many things can cause a change to menstrual cycles such as stress, and changes in sleep, diet, exercise, and some medicines. It is also important to note that irregular periods are very common among teens and may have no specific cause at all. If you have concerns about your period or your child’s periods, talk to a doctor.