Vaccines: Know the Facts. Inform your Choice.

Vaccines — or shots — are an important tool to stop COVID-19.

After months of research and testing, the first vaccines for COVID-19 are approved. Getting a COVID-19 shot will help prevent illness from COVID-19, save lives, and with time, help end the pandemic.

Vaccinating everyone will take time. While we wait for most of the population to get vaccinated, we need to continue wearing masks, practice physical distancing, and frequently wash our hands to stop the spread.

Distributing the Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed in phases. At first, because there are a limited number of doses available, government agencies will distribute the vaccine to priority groups. The goal is to decrease death and disease as much as possible.

Missouri is distributing the vaccine in three phases. In Phase 1, which has two parts (1A and 1B), vaccination has started with healthcare workers and those Missourians who are most vulnerable to the virus. As more doses of the vaccine become available, more essential workers and high-risk populations will be able to get the vaccine.

In Phase 2, vaccination efforts will focus on economic recovery and populations who that are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

In Phase 3, the vaccine will be available to all Missourians. It is important to know that this may not happen for many months – maybe even well into 2021. Being patient, continuing safety steps like mask wearing, physical distancing and hand washing will continue to be crucial to protect your health and the health of others.

This plan may continue to change as the availability of the vaccine changes.

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What to Expect

When and where can I get vaccinated?

Because there are a limited number of doses available, the vaccine will be distributed in phases. Your place in line will depend on your age, your profession, and your health risks.

Many Missourians are now eligible to receive the vaccine, but supply is limited. Even when your group is eligible, you may need to wait for doses of the vaccine to be available in your area. You can pre-register for a vaccine now, and you will be contacted when a vaccine appointment is available.

If you are in Phase 1A, look to your employer or professional association for instructions.
If you are in Phase 1B Tier 1, register with your employer or local public health department.
If you are in Phase 1B Tier 2, register with your care provider. If you do not have a regular care provider, register with your local public health department.

At first, the vaccine will be distributed through hospitals, health departments, and government partners like CVS and Walgreens. Vaccines could eventually be available at other pharmacies, doctors’ offices, clinics, and public health sites.

What to expect when you get the vaccine

Side effects of COVID-19 vaccines can include exhaustion or tiredness, muscle pain, chills, and fever. Side effects are more common after the second dose of the vaccine and usually last for one or two days.

These symptoms may make you feel sick enough to stay home from work. Talk with your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have about the vaccine and how you will manage potential side effects.

Myths vs. Facts

Myth: It’s better to develop immunity – or disease resistance – naturally

Fact: Achieving immunity through vaccines is safer than achieving it through an infection (which is sometimes called “natural immunity”). Vaccines train your immune system to fight a virus without the risk of getting sick from that virus.

Vaccination may also be more effective. Research has shown that people who have had the COVID-19 vaccines had more antibodies than people who had been sick with COVID-19. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3

Myth: The vaccine can give you COVID.

Fact: The vaccine does not contain the live virus of COVID-19, so you will not get sick with COVID-19 from the vaccine.

You may experience side effects for a few days after receiving the vaccine. Side effects are a normal part of vaccination and are a positive sign that the body is building immunity. These side effects do not mean that you are sick with COVID-19.

However, it is important to know that it is possible to receive the shot and get infected from another source before your body has a chance to build immunity. It is important to continue washing your hands and wearing a mask even after you get each dose of the vaccine. Source

Myth: Vaccines contain harmful toxins and fetal cells.

Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not contain harmful ingredients and were not created using fetal cell lines. Vaccines are created through a very rigorous process that involves lots of checks and reviews to ensure that they are not dangerous to people. You can view the full list of ingredients in the Pfizer vaccine and Moderna vaccine through the FDA. Source 1, Source 2

Myth: I don’t need to get vaccinated because I’m young and healthy.

Fact: There is no way to know how the virus will affect you, no matter your age. Even though older people are more likely to develop severe cases of COVID-19, you should still consider vaccination even if you are young and healthy. The FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for people over age 16, and the Moderna vaccine for people over age 18. Talk with your provider about any questions you have about your risk for COVID-19. Source 1, Source 2

Myth: I don’t need to get vaccinated because I’ve already had COVID-19.

Fact: People who have been infected with COVID-19 can still benefit from receiving the vaccine. Because of the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the potential for reinfection, experts recommend that people who have had the virus be vaccinated.

Vaccination may also be more effective than immunity from infection (sometimes called “natural immunity”). Research has shown that people who have had the COVID-19 vaccines had more antibodies than people who had been sick with COVID-19. Source

Myth: I can’t get vaccinated because I’m pregnant or breastfeeding.

Fact: People who are pregnant can choose to be vaccinated.
Experts believe the approved COVID-19 vaccines are very unlikely to pose a risk to people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pregnant people were not allowed to participate in the first vaccine trials, but some accidental pregnancies did occur and there were no reports of problems with these pregnancies.

If you have questions about vaccination during pregnancy, talk with your healthcare provider. They will help you balance the risks of COVID-19 during pregnancy with the possible risks and side effects of vaccination.

More information about COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy is available from the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Myth: The vaccine was developed too quickly to be safe or trustworthy.

Fact: COVID-19 vaccines went through very rigorous testing, reviews and approvals from both the public and the private sector before being authorized by the FDA. Operation Warp Speed — the public-private partnership initiated by the U.S. government to accelerate development of the COVID-19 vaccine — helped speed up the process to get the vaccine ready, which involved agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Defense. Still, the COVID vaccine took longer than the H1N1 2009 vaccine. Source 1, Source 2

Myth: The vaccine can alter your DNA.

Fact: The COVID vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, which stands for messenger ribonucleic acid. The vaccine delivers this “message” to a person’s cells. The cells read the message, so when they replicate, they have the information on how to shield themselves from the coronavirus. The mRNA from the vaccine never enters the nucleus, or center, of the cell, where a person’s DNA is stored. Source

Myth: The vaccine can cause infertility.

COVID vaccines do not cause infertility. If you are currently being treated for infertility, you can still get vaccinated. All tests and studies so far have shown that antibodies created by the COVID vaccine do not affect fertility. In fact, several women who participated in the Pfizer vaccine trial became pregnant during the trial.

While there is some genetic similarity between a protein in the COVID virus and a protein found in the placenta during pregnancy, there is not enough similarity between them for the placenta to be affected by vaccine antibodies.

If you have questions about vaccination and fertility, talk with your healthcare provider. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3

Myth: The vaccine can cause neurological side effects like Bell’s Palsy.

Pfizer and BioNTech reported to the FDA that there is no evidence that the COVID vaccine causes Bell’s palsy or neurological side effects. People who have had Bell’s Pasly previously may get a COVID-19 vaccine. Source

Myth: I won’t have to wear a mask after getting vaccinated.

Fact: The vaccine is just one of many tools for us to beat COVID-19. It’s important to continue wearing masks even after receiving the vaccine for some time, as it takes time for our immunity to build up after the shot. More research is needed to understand if getting the shot can prevent people from spreading the virus to others. Source 1, Source 2

Myth: It isn’t worth it to get the vaccine because of the side effects.

Fact: While vaccines can cause side effects, most of the time they are very minor, such as lingering soreness around the injection site or a fever that lasts a day or two. The benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and having immunity against the virus far outweigh the potential side effects. If you do experience negative side effects, you can report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Source

Myth: I can’t get the COVID-19 vaccine because I’ve had an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine or other shots

Fact: In rare cases, some flu vaccines are known to cause allergic reactions to people with egg allergies because of an egg protein used in that vaccine. The COVID vaccines are not made with this egg protein, so those with allergies to eggs will be able to take this vaccine. If you are concerned about allergies or reactions to the vaccine, talk with your doctor about your concerns and stay for monitoring after you get the shot. Source 1, Source 2

Frequently Asked Questions

How do vaccines work?

Vaccines protect people from specific diseases by training the immune system to recognize and attack a virus before it can make them sick.

Vaccines also protect the community. When most of a population is immune to an infectious disease, people who are not immune are also protected because it is harder for the disease to spread.

Diseases that were once common in the U.S. – like measles, mumps and polio – are now very rare because most Americans have immunity through vaccines.

How are vaccines developed?

Vaccines must go through many tests and approval processes to make sure they are effective and safe before they are distributed to the public.

Vaccines usually go through six stages of development. During these stages, the vaccines being studied are called “candidates.”

Exploratory Stage
Pre-Clinical Stage
Clinical Trials – Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3
Manufacturing
Regulatory Review and Approval
Quality Control

To speed up the process for COVID-19 vaccines, some of these stages are happening at the same time. For example, drug companies may begin making a vaccine while it is still in Phase 3 clinical trials so that the vaccine is ready to distribute immediately if it is approved.

Who is involved in this process?

There are multiple international groups developing a vaccine.

In the U.S., the CDC, FDA, Department of the Defense (DoD), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others are collaborating to produce and distribute the a vaccine in an effort called Operation Warp Speed.

Companies working to develop vaccines include AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Moderna, Pfizer, BioNTech, and Cytiva.

What is happening now?

In December 2020, the FDA gave emergency use approval to the first COVID-19 vaccines, created by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The first doses of the vaccines will go to healthcare workers, long-term care facilities, and people with an increased risk of severe illness first. As more doses of the vaccines become available, more priority groups will have access to the vaccine.

Two other vaccine “candidates,” made by Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, are in Phase 3 trials and need to collect more data before applying for authorization. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3

What does “emergency use” approval mean for this vaccine?

The FDA issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA determined that the vaccines may be effective in preventing COVID-19 and the known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks.

Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is an authority granted to the FDA which can be utilized when there is a public health emergency to facilitate the availability and use of medical solutions, including vaccines. The FDA may allow the use of unapproved medical products, or unapproved uses of approved medical products in an emergency to diagnose, treat or prevent serious life-threatening diseases or conditions.

Before approval, the COVID-19 vaccine was rigorously tested through a series of clinical trials to generate the data and other information needed by the FDA to determine safety and effectiveness. The clinical trials were conducted according to the rigorous standards set by the FDA.

When will a vaccine be available for use by the public?

Vaccines will be distributed in phases. Government agencies will distribute the limited doses of vaccines to priority groups first. The vaccine will be available to the public as more doses of the vaccine are manufactured later in 2021. People should remain patient and continue to take safety steps between now and then like wearing a mask, physically distancing, and regular hand washing. Source

Where will the vaccine be available?

The first vaccines will be distributed to priority groups in hospitals and pharmacies. CVS and Walgreens are part of Operation Warp Speed and will help vaccinate priority groups.

Depending on the vaccine and the type of equipment needed to store doses safely, the vaccine could eventually be available at other pharmacies, doctors’ offices, clinics, and public health sites.

Who is responsible for making sure the vaccine is safe?

There are multiple agencies responsible for making sure new vaccines are safe. Before a vaccine becomes available, it must go through several rounds of tests with human volunteers. The FDA reviews the results of these studies before authorizing vaccines. The FDA also inspects the factories where vaccines are produced to ensure quality and safety.

Once a vaccine is released, agencies in the national vaccine monitoring system continue to oversee the safety of vaccines. These agencies monitor the safety of hundreds of millions of vaccines every year and include:

Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS)
The Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD)
Post-licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring System (PRISM)
Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project (CISA)
The Department of Defense (DoD)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)

Source 1, Source 2

Which age groups will get the vaccine?

At first, the COVID-19 vaccines will only be available and recommended for older adolescents and adults. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people 16 and older. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for people 18 and older. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will study the results of clinical trials for each vaccine “candidate” before making a recommendation. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3

How many shots or doses will be needed?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both require two shots for full protection. Like other vaccines, there may be a need for “booster” shots in the future if immunity decreases. Source

What are some of the side effects of the vaccine?

Side effects are a normal part of vaccination. After getting a vaccine, the body launches an immune response that can produce short-term symptoms. These symptoms are a positive sign that the body is building immunity. During clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, some participants reported side effects including exhaustion or tiredness, muscle pain, chills, and fever. These symptoms were more common after the second dose of the vaccine and usually last for one or two days. These side effects do not mean that you are sick with COVID-19.

The potential side effects of a vaccine are much less serious than the long-term, life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19. Talk with your healthcare provider about any worries you may have about the vaccine and how you will handle potential side effects. Source 1, Source 2 , Source 3, Source 4

How effective are COVID-19 vaccines? What do these numbers mean?

In clinical trials, vaccine researchers are studying how well vaccines protect volunteers from getting sick with COVID-19. Researchers give the vaccine to some volunteers and give other volunteers a “placebo,” or a shot that contains no medicine. Researchers then compare how many volunteers in each group became sick with COVID-19. This is called “efficacy” or “effectiveness.”

In Phase 3 clinical trials, the efficacy was 94.5% for the Moderna vaccine and 95% for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which means both vaccines were very good at protecting volunteers from COVID-19.

Once a vaccine is approved, researchers will continue to study how well the vaccine works in the real world and in specific groups of people. Source 1, Source 2

Will the current vaccines protect against new strains of the coronavirus?

New research suggests that the Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine will protect against the new strains of coronavirus found in the U.K. and South Africa. The preliminary study did not look at the Moderna vaccine, but similar testing will soon be done. Source

How long does protection last?

COVID-19 is a relatively new virus in humans. We don’t know yet know long immunity from infection or vaccination will last. Some people have been infected with COVID-19 more than once, which shows that immunity from natural infection may not last very long. Immunity from the vaccine is expected to last longer, but researchers will need to continue studying this question. Source 1, Source 2

How soon will we be able to get back to a more normal way of life?

Vaccines are an important tool in ending the pandemic, but it will take time for us to return to a normal way of life. It will take many months to vaccinate enough people to stop the spread of the virus. In the meantime, we need to continue taking safety steps like frequent handwashing, wearing face masks, and physical distancing to prevent and to protect ourselves and others. Source 1, Source 2

Can the state make the vaccine mandatory?

Technically, yes. States have the legal and constitutional power to introduce a vaccine mandate requiring people who live in the state to be vaccinated. Upon full approval from the FDA, states could make the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement before returning or accessing workplaces, schools and colleges. As of January 2021, no states had announced plans to mandate the vaccine. Missouri Governor Mike Parson has said he will not require vaccinations in Missouri. Source 1, Source 2

Can my workplace make the vaccine mandatory?

Yes. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), workplaces can require that employees get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, if an employee chooses not to be vaccinated due to a disability or religious reasons, they cannot be fired, and the employer must make accommodations such as allowing the employee to work from home. The EEOC states that vaccination is not considered a “medical examination,” which employers cannot mandate.