COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ

Yes. All vaccines used in the US are required to go through extensive safety testing before they are authorized or licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended for widespread use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

COVID-19 vaccines have been studied in multiple clinical trials, each of which has included thousands of individuals. Since the start of the pandemic, billions of doses have been administered in the US and globally.

All COVID-19 vaccines continue to undergo extensive safety monitoring, including using several reporting systems to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Serious adverse events from the vaccines are rare and less severe than the disease.

Yes, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant to prevent them from getting severely ill with COVID-19. Vaccination during pregnancy also protects infants from severe COVID-19 before they are old enough to be vaccinated.

There has been no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are harmful to either women who are breastfeeding or to their babies.

Furthermore, there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines impact fertility or are harmful to the mother or infant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other experts strongly recommend that pregnant women be vaccinated against COVID-19.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination, so it is possible to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 before or after vaccination. Vaccination helps protect against severe disease and related complications including hospitalization and death, but are not as effective in preventing mild COVID-19 infections.

None of the vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19, so it is not possible to get the disease from the vaccine.

Severe allergic reactions to vaccines are rare but can happen. People who have had severe allergic reactions to other vaccines or injectable therapies should talk with a healthcare professional before getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

CDC offers additional guidance on allergic reactions after COVID-19 vaccination.

Multiple studies show that older adults and those with certain medical conditions—including cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, dementia, diabetes (type 1 or type 2), Down syndrome, heart disease, HIV, liver disease, and sickle cell disease—are at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 and should be vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines remain the best way to prevent hospitalization, long-term health outcomes, and death.

Learn more about vaccines recommended for people with chronic health conditions.

There have been rare reports of inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or pericarditis) following vaccination. Most of the reported cases have been among male adolescents and young adults and have occurred within several days following the second dose of the vaccine.

The known and potential benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risks. The risk of myocarditis is up to 6 times higher after COVID-19 infection than after mRNA vaccination.

Symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis can include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, particularly if it is within a week after COVID-19 vaccination, seek immediate medical care.

CDC is actively monitoring these reports and continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for everyone age 6 months and older.