From the start of the pandemic, the federal government (under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed) worked diligently to make a COVID-19 vaccine available as soon as possible. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carefully reviewed all safety data from clinical trials and authorized the emergency vaccine use (EUA) after determining the expected benefits of the vaccine outweigh potential risks.
All COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized for emergency use in the US were tested in large clinical trials to ensure they meet safety standards. Over 30,000 people participated in each trial in order to determine how the vaccines offer protection to people of different ages, races, and ethnicities, as well as those with different medical conditions. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviewed all safety data before recommending each COVID-19 vaccine for use. (Learn how ACIP makes vaccine recommendations.) The FDA and CDC are continuing to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, to make sure even very rare side effects are identified.
Washington, Oregon and Nevada joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup in October 2020, becoming the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup (WSSSRW). This workgroup is made up of nationally-acclaimed scientists with expertise in immunization and public health, and has concurrently and independently reviewed the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccines, providing recommendations to California leadership around vaccine planning efforts as well as ensuring public confidence in vaccine safety, efficacy, and implementation efforts. The WSSSRW will continue to evaluate other COVID-19 vaccines as they go through the federal approval process.
Additionally, there are 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. Visit the CDC's Developing COVID-19 Vaccine webpage to find out more about how these vaccines were developed.
Everyone 6 months and above is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Marin County Public Health is working with local partners including hospitals, family physicians, 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 webpages: GetVaccinatedMarin.org and Vaccine Finder.
Most people experience only mild side effects after being vaccinated. Your arm may be sore, red, or warm to the touch. These symptoms usually go away on their own in less than 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 vaccination side effects, including tips on how to relieve side effects, visit the CDC's Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.
Primary Vaccination Series
- Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses.
- The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose.
If you are vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer, both first and second dose must be the same brand of vaccine (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.
Boosters
Visit the CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots page to learn more about who should receive a booster shot, when to get a booster, and which vaccine you can receive for your booster.
To find out more about getting vaccinated for COVID-19 visit our Vaccine page.
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. The vaccines are safe for children ages 6 months and older. Clinical trials were conducted with thousands of children and no serious safety concerns were identified.
Before recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children, scientists conducted clinical trials. The FDA has given emergency use authorization to both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to use in children 6 months and older. The CDC's Advisory Committee and Immunization Practices and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recommend both vaccines for children 6 months and older. Learn more about the process of developing, authorizing, and approving COVID-19 vaccines.
Based on clinical trial data, children may have some side effects from COVID-19 vaccination, which are similar to what adults have experienced and the side effects that many children experience after routine vaccinations. These side effects are normal signs that their body is building protection and may affect your child’s ability to do daily activities, and should go away within a few days. Some children will not have side effects. Serious side effects are rare but may occur.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks.
Update: A Pfizer and Moderna vaccine was recently (June 19, 2022) approved for children age 6 months to 4 years of age. Local vaccine providers started vaccinations for this age group on Thursday, June 23, 2022. NOTE: Vaccine supply will determine available clinics and appointments: the vaccine for young children is a different formulation than the 12 & older vaccine, and vaccine manufacturers are working as quickly as possible to ship the new formulation to providers across the United States
On May 20, 2022, Marin County Public Health aligned with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to authorize a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-to-11-years old. This directive is based on a recommendation by the FDA, CDC, and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup (WSSSRW).
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.
Marin County is aligned with California Department of Public Health's Isolation & Quarantine guidance.
Close contacts are no longer required to quarantine if they remain without symptoms.
Recommended actions for close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, include:
- Test within 3-5 days after last exposure.
- Per CDPH masking guidance, close contacts should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease (see masks and face covering page for additional information).
- Strongly encouraged to complete a primary vaccination series or get boosted.
- If symptoms develop, test and stay home, AND
- If test result is positive, follow isolation recommendations.
All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should:
- Self-isolate and test as soon as possible to determine infection status. Knowing one is infected early during self-isolation enables (a) earlier access to treatment options, if indicated (especially for those that may be at risk for severe illness), and (b) notification of exposed persons (close contacts) who may also benefit by knowing if they are infected.
- For symptomatic persons who have tested positive within the previous 90 days, using an antigen test is preferred.
- Remain in isolation while waiting for testing results. If not tested, they should continue isolating for 10 days after the day of symptom onset, and if they cannot isolate, should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days.
- Consider continuing self-isolation and retesting in 1-2 days if testing negative with an antigen test, particularly if tested during the first 1-2 days of symptoms.
- Continue to self-isolate if test result is positive, follow recommended actions, and contact their healthcare provider about available treatments if symptoms are severe or they are at high risk for serious disease or if they have any questions concerning their care.
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.
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.
The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson do not use pork gelatin in their formulas. Gelatin from pork and cow products is often used in vaccines to stabilize the drug’s ingredients and ensure they remain effective through the distribution process. The three COVID-19 vaccines also do not contain eggs, preservatives, or latex.
For a full list of ingredients, please see each the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) below: