The COVID-19 Vaccine

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The COVID-19 vaccine development process included all the usual safety steps – none were skipped. The process was quicker than we’re used to for a few main reasons:

• Scientists and public health experts around the entire world focused their efforts on the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. This has not happened in our lifetimes!
• Companies produced millions of vaccine doses at the same time as the clinical trials were happening – this way, we would not need to wait to actually make the vaccines at the end of the safety tests.
• Scientists didn’t have to start from scratch. They used what they learned from previous coronavirus outbreaks like SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2012 to help figure out the science behind how the COVID vaccine works.

All vaccines available now are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death from COVID-19. 

The vaccines are effective for all genders, races and ethnicities. 

Hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given out across the United States with no more than a handful of reports of serious side effects.

The most common side effects reported are:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Fever
• Pain or swelling at the site of the injection (upper arm)

Any side effects typically go away after a day or two.

COVID-19 can be serious, and even deadly, and there is no way to know how the virus will affect you. And even if you catch the virus and don’t get very sick, you could still spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you. COVID-19 has proven to have much more serious symptoms than the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is by far the safer bet.  

The only people who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine are people with a history of severe allergies to its ingredients.

Anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can still receive the vaccine but will be monitored for 15 minutes longer after vaccination to ensure they are safe.

People with mild to moderate allergies to food, the environment or medications are still highly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have further questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

Yes! The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant and breastfeeding. 

There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems.  If you are trying to become pregnant, you do not need to avoid pregnancy after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Yes, you should. After you have recovered from COVID-19, scientists do not yet know how long you are immune from catching COVID-19 again. The vaccine will be your best protection.

No. Erie provides all of our care, including the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available, regardless of a person’s immigration status.

It isn’t true that only older adults and people with pre-existing conditions are at risk for getting really sick from COVID. As more and more older adults become fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the virus is still mutating and spreading rapidly among those who are not yet vaccinated – including young people.

To protect your own health, and the health of your friends and family, it is important that you don’t pass up vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best tool we have to keep people from getting very sick and dying from COVID-19.

Chicago Department of Public Health COVID-19 site

Illinois Department of Public Health Vaccine FAQs

CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions