COVID-19: What You Need to Know About the Vaccine
How Can I Get My COVID-19 Vaccine?
By now, you probably know plenty of friends and family who have received these safe and effective vaccines. And we're glad that you're interested in getting yours too.
With the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommending the pause be lifted on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there are once again three COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use. Together with the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, widespread vaccination is available. Everyone ages 12+ can now get their vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for emergency use by the FDA in those 12 and older, while Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are authorized for those 18 and older.
Until we have reached herd immunity, we must all continue taking important precautions to help slow the spread of the virus. This includes wearing a mask, washing and sanitizing your hands frequently, social distancing and limiting gatherings.
Ohio
All Ohioans age 12 and over are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cleveland Clinic anticipates receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine over the next several weeks and will be able to offer vaccinations to those ages 12 and older at all of our locations. Those under the age of 18 who are coming to a Cleveland Clinic vaccination site must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or provide written consent from their parent or guardian in order to receive the vaccine.
If you or your child is a Cleveland Clinic patient or Ohio resident who is interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine at one of our vaccination sites, please visit our Ohio vaccination page.
Florida
Cleveland Clinic is working with the Florida Department of Health to provide vaccinations based on established criteria by executive order of Gov. DeSantis.
You must be a Florida resident and an established patient age 18 and over who has seen a Cleveland Clinic Florida provider in the last two years for outpatient or inpatient care.
If you’re a Cleveland Clinic patient who is interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine at one of our vaccination sites, please visit our Florida vaccination page.
What Should I Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine?
The FDA has authorized COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Jonson for emergency use in the United States.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are given in two doses. It’s important for you to get both doses of these vaccines to get the maximum benefit. For Cleveland Clinic patients, when you complete your first vaccination appointment, your second dose appointment will be automatically scheduled for you.
Pfizer’s vaccine doses are given 21 days apart. Moderna’s vaccine doses are 28 days apart. But if you can’t schedule your second dose during this time frame, you do not need to get the first dose again if the second dose is given later. This is because the CDC says there is no maximum time between doses.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the third vaccine to get authorized for emergency use and requires only one dose. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended resuming the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, following a pause to review a small number of episodes of ;clotting disorders with low platelet counts in the U.S. after receiving the vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for emergency use in those 12 and older. Moderna's and Johnson & Johnson's vaccines are authorized for emergency use in those 18 and older. Pfizer has started a global study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine in children between the ages of 6 months to 11-years-old. But children's immune systems are different than adults and may require different doses or formulations, so we don't have a clear answer yet as to when a vaccine for younger children will be available.
Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
Yes, we strongly encourage you to get it.
Given the speed of development of these vaccines, it’s understandable that there have been questions about whether or not there’s been enough research and testing to ensure the vaccines are safe. But all vaccines must go through rigorous clinical trials to determine safety and efficacy, with at least two months of patient follow-up, and report their findings to the FDA.
As with many vaccines, you may be sore where it’s injected. You may also develop fatigue, fever and muscle aches afterward. This seems to be more common with the second dose of vaccine. If this happens, it means your immune system is taking notice of the vaccine and reacting.
Should I be concerned about a severe allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine?
No. Allergic reactions, including shortness of breath and hives, were uncommon during COVID-19 vaccine trials. All recipients receiving the vaccine will be monitored for at least 15 minutes after vaccination for possible immediate hypersensitive reactions. If you have a history of allergic reactions to vaccines, talk to your healthcare provider before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
What side effects can I expect from the vaccines?
In the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson clinical trials, the vaccines were very effective with only mild side effects that are common in all vaccines. These include fever, fatigue, muscle aches and headache.
How is the newest Johnson & Johnson vaccine different from the others already approved?
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses DNA from the COVID-19 spike protein into a virus called an adenovirus (the type of virus that typically causes colds) instead of mRNA. You only need to get one dose instead of two. In the phase 3 clinical trial, the vaccine was shown to be 66% effective in preventing moderate and severe COVID-19 disease 28 days after vaccination. Overall, the vaccine was also 85% effective in preventing hospitalization and 100% effective in preventing death, 28 days after vaccination.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for children?
Similar to the first authorized COVID-19 vaccines for adults, the Pfizer vaccine went through rigorous testing and analysis to determine its safety and effectiveness in children 12+ before it was made available to them. Because children’s immune systems are different than adults and change as they age, vaccines are tested and approved for different age groups. Medical trials involving children involve strict protocols to ensure their safety and trials are still underway for children 6 months to 11 years old.
If I’m pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, can I get immunized?
While pregnant and breastfeeding women weren’t included in the first COVID-19 vaccine trials, safety data is reassuring. Since the vaccines don’t contain the live virus, they aren’t thought to increase the risk of infertility, miscarriage during the first or second trimester, stillbirth or birth defects. There’s also no evidence to suggest the vaccine is a risk to a breastfeeding baby. That said, getting the vaccine while trying to conceive, during pregnancy or when you are breastfeeding is a personal choice. We encourage you to talk to your Ob/Gyn to help you make a decision together.
If I've had COVID-19 should I get vaccinated anyway?
We still recommend that you get the vaccine even if you’ve had COVID-19. However, you may consider waiting 90 days after getting infected as it’s not common to get COVID-19 again within three months of first being infected.
Why Should I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine (If I'm Still on the Fence)?
It's the best way to slow this deadly pandemic
We understand that you might be uneasy about getting your COVID-19 vaccine. Maybe you’re not sure what to expect. Or you aren’t sure if it’s right for you.
Here’s why you should consider getting your vaccine:
- To protect yourself: Getting the vaccine means there’s up to a 95% chance that you’ll personally be protected from getting COVID-19.
- To protect those around you: If you get sick, you could spread the virus to others. Getting the vaccine, while continuing to wear a mask and practice social distancing, will help keep your friends and family safe, especially those who may be at risk for a severe case of COVID-19.
- To protect your community: For the vaccine to be effective against COVID-19, we need enough people — 50% to 80% — to get vaccinated. So, even though you may have to wear a mask for a little longer until more people have received it, we know that every person that gets vaccinated is a small step in the right direction.
At the end of the day, we’re confident that this vaccine is the most important public health strategy for slowing the spread of COVID-19, and we strongly encourage you to consider getting it.
Once I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine, Can I Stop Wearing a Mask and Social Distancing?
Yes, but only in certain situations
The CDC has issued guidance for those who are fully vaccinated from COVID-19. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving your second dose in a two-dose series (such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
If you’re fully vaccinated from COVID-19, you can have small, indoor visits with others who are fully vaccinated. You can also then have small gatherings with others from a single household who are not vaccinated and have a low-risk for developing severe COVID-19 disease. And you no longer need to quarantine or get tested if you have been in close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19 but does not have any symptoms.
The CDC adds that you should still continue to wear masks and physically distance in public spaces even if you’re fully vaccinated. You should also avoid being in direct contact with unvaccinated people from multiple households, unvaccinated people at high-risk for severe COVID-19 disease, and those living with an unvaccinated person at high-risk for severe COVID-19 disease. Plus, after being fully vaccinated, you should still watch out for symptoms of COVID, especially if you’ve been around someone who is COVID-positive. If you develop symptoms, you should get tested and stay away from others.
There is still much to learn about how effective vaccines are against COVID-19 variants, as well as how well vaccines keep people from spreading the virus. We will continue to watch for updated guidance from the CDC as more data becomes available.
It’s important to note that this guidance does not apply to healthcare settings, and our current masking policies remain in place. All patients, visitors and caregivers at Cleveland Clinic will still be screened and required to wear a face mask in our facilities, even if they are fully vaccinated.
