The federal government, under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed, has been working since the start of the pandemic to make a COVID-19 vaccine available as soon as possible. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carefully reviews all safety data from clinical trials and authorizes emergency vaccine use (EUA) only when the expected benefits outweigh potential risks. COVID-19 vaccines were tested in large clinical trials to make sure they meet safety standards. Many people (>30,000 for each trial) were recruited to participate in these trials to determine how the vaccines offers protection to people of different ages, races, and ethnicities, as well as those with different medical conditions. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviews all safety data before recommending any COVID-19 vaccine for use. Learn how ACIP makes vaccine recommendations. FDA and CDC will continue to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, to make sure even very rare side effects are identified.
To ensure the COVID-19 vaccine meets safety requirements, California formed a Scientific Safety Review Work Group comprised of nationally recognized immunization, public health, academic and other subject matter experts. The work group is staying abreast of vaccine candidate(s) trials, evidence of safety and efficacy, and other information to independently provide recommendations to California leadership and vaccine planning efforts as well as ensure public confidence in vaccine safety, efficacy, and implementation efforts.
There are also several safety monitoring systems set up in the US, including:
- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
- Vaccine safety datalink
- Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project (CISA)
- “V-safe”
These safety monitoring systems provide methods for checking in with vaccine recipients after vaccination and allow participants to report any side effects or health problems experienced after COVID-19 vaccination.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
Where and how you will be vaccinated will depend on your place within the vaccine distribution framework and the available supply at the time you become eligible. All Marin County residents age 12 and above are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Marin Public Health is working with local partners including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics, for vaccine distribution. For information about COVID-19 vaccination sites and to schedule a vaccine appointment, please visit our website: GetVaccinatedMarin.org and Vaccine Finder.
Most people do not have serious problems after being vaccinated. Live virus vaccines are known to cause more systemic side effects. This is not a live virus vaccine. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both mRNA vaccines. However, your arm may be sore, red, or warm to the touch. These symptoms usually go away on their own <72 hours. Some people report getting a headache or fever when getting a vaccine. These side effects are a sign that your immune system is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. It is working and building up protection for the disease.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose.
If you receive Modera or Pfizer, the initial vaccine and the second vaccine must be from the same vaccine company (e.g., you cannot mix Moderna and Pfizer). The first shot starts building protection, but everyone must come back 3-4 weeks later for the second one to get the most protection the vaccine can offer. The first shot primes the immune system, helping it recognize the virus, and the second shot strengthens the immune response.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna provide a 95% effectiveness in preventing people from developing coronavirus symptoms. This data is based on clinical trials that included tens of thousands of people from both companies.
We don’t know how long natural immunity lasts for those who get infected. What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice. It is not known whether getting COVID-19 disease will protect everyone against getting it again, or, if it does, how long that protection might last.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
COVID-19 vaccines have been tested in large clinical trials (>30,000 participants) to assess their safety, a core analytical measure when studying all vaccines. However, it does take time and more people getting vaccinated before we learn about very rare or long-term side effects. That is why safety monitoring will continue. CDC has an independent group of experts that reviews all the safety data as it comes in and provides regular safety updates. If a safety issue is detected, immediate action will take place to determine if the issue is related to the COVID-19 vaccine and determine the best course of action. Getting the vaccine is still the safer choice than the serious risk of COVID-19 infection.
To ensure the COVID-19 vaccine meets safety requirements, California formed a Scientific Safety Review Work Group comprised of nationally recognized immunization, public health, academic and other subject matter experts. The work group is staying abreast of vaccine candidate(s) trials, evidence of safety and efficacy, and other information to independently provide recommendations to California leadership and vaccine planning efforts as well as ensure public confidence in vaccine safety, efficacy, and implementation efforts.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
Yes. Currently, Pfizer is authorized for use with patients age 12 and above, and has received full FDA approval for use in patients age 16 and above.
At this time, alternative COVID-19 vaccines are not available for children and teens until more studies are completed. Such studies are underway in older children and are planned in younger children. COVID-19 is generally less severe in children than adults; nevertheless, the risk of severe disease in children with underlying medical conditions, and the general desire to prevent COVID-19 in children remain compelling reasons for vaccine studies in children.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
No. A flu vaccine will not protect you from getting COVID-19, but it can prevent you from getting influenza (flu) at the same time as COVID-19. This can keep you from having a more severe illness. Also, since flu and COVID-19 symptoms can be similar, being vaccinated for the flu will help you stay healthy and reduces your chance of experiencing severe flu symptoms, helping to lower the impact of flu-related hospitalizations in our local health care system. That means that getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine in Marin County on our vaccine information webpage.
Both doses of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are needed for full protection. A single dose conveys a lower degree of protection from the virus than two doses.
A second dose of Pfizer should be administered approximately 21 days after your first dose. A second dose of Moderna should be administered approximately 28 days after you first dose. If you miss your second dose appointment, you should reschedule with the provider that administered your first dose as soon as possible.
The CDC indicates that it is safe to administer vaccines up to four days early. Anything beyond that should be considered an error and reported to your healthcare provider.
It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build protection against the virus following vaccination. The CDC defines an individual as fully vaccinated if they have met the following:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. If you are NOT fully vaccinated then yes, you still need to quarantine. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
If you ARE fully vaccinated the CDC recommends the following:
If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
- However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.
Because the vaccine takes a few weeks to start working and requires two doses, it’s still possible to catch COVID-19 while you’re waiting for your second shot. There have been a few reports of people appearing to become infected with the virus after receiving their first shot. In most cases, it’s not known whether the patients already had the virus when they were given the vaccine, or whether they were exposed after vaccination but before their bodies had built up enough immunity to fight off the virus. Clinical trials of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines showed they reach only about 50 percent efficacy in the first few weeks after the first shot. If you develop COVID-19 after the first dose, you should still plan on getting the second dose on schedule but check with your doctor first. And remember, even after two doses, no vaccine offers 100 percent protection. But even if you do catch the virus after vaccination, it's likely that you will experience mild illness because your body, has antibodies ready to fight off the virus.
Children were not included in the early vaccine studies for safety reasons, vaccines are typically tested on adults first. But once a vaccine is shown to be safe and effective in adults, researchers run more trials on children to adjust the dosage for their bodies. Another factor in the wait for a vaccine for children is that they are far less likely to die from Covid-19 than adults are. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report in September which concluded that, of more than 190,000 people who died in the United States with Covid-19, only 121 were under the age of 21.
Employers do have the right to compel their workers to be vaccinated once a vaccine is formally approved. Many hospital systems, for example, require annual flu shots. But employees can seek exemptions based on medical reasons or religious beliefs. In such cases, employers are supposed to provide a “reasonable accommodation” — with a coronavirus vaccine, for example, a worker might be allowed to work if they wear a mask, or to work from home.
The U.S. vaccine safety system makes sure all vaccines are as safe as possible. COVID-19 vaccines have gone through the same safety tests and meet the same standards as other vaccines. People living with HIV (PLWH) were included in clinical trials, though safety data specific to this group are not yet available.
While this specific safety data is missing, PLWH are encouraged to be vaccinated. Patients are encouraged to consult with their primary care provider if their case may qualify for vaccine prioritization. Note that this currently only applies to patients who are immunocompromised and is largely determined by the state. If you decide to get vaccinated, continue to take everyday preventive actions to protect yourself against COVID-19. Check out this article from April 2021 about some current studies of the vaccines with this population.