What You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists worldwide have been working to find treatments and cures.

Below are some frequently asked questions about vaccines and the status of COVID-19 vaccines.

What Is a Vaccine?


Simply put, a vaccine can prevent disease. When you get a vaccine for a certain disease, it stimulates your immune system to create antibodies against the disease. Those antibodies can give you immunity against a disease without ever becoming sick.

Vaccines have been around for more than 200 years, and there are currently vaccines for more than 20 life-threatening diseases. According to the World Health Organization, vaccines prevent the death of between 2 million and 3 million people each year.

Where Do Vaccines Come from?


From scientific study and research. Scientists study an infectious disease in the laboratory and break down its components. They attempt to find out what component causes the disease. They then create a vaccine to neutralize the disease-causing portions. The goal is for a vaccine to be both safe for people who get it and effective at preventing the disease.

Vaccines go through extensive clinical trials to determine their safety and effectiveness — first in animals, then in humans. The FDA monitors the trials. If a vaccine is shown to be both safe and effective, the FDA can approve the vaccine for widespread use in humans.

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What Is the Status of the COVID-19 Vaccine?


Four COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed throughout the United States:

  • Americans 6 months and older are eligible to receive a vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech.
  • Americans 6 months and older are eligible to receive a vaccine developed by Moderna.
  • Americans 18 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine developed by Novavax.
  • Americans 18 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J).

Additionally, people in certain high-risk groups may be eligible for an additional or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about who is eligible for a third dose.

What Is an Emergency Use Authorization?


During a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA can issue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for medical treatments that have not yet received final approval.

Manufacturers can submit a request for an EUA to the FDA. The FDA evaluates the EUA request on several criteria, including the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. If the treatment is shown to be safe and effective, and if there are no other adequate approved treatments, the FDA can issue the EUA.

While an EUA means a treatment can be used during an emergency, that does not mean the treatment has final, full FDA approval. The regular clinical trial and approval process will continue even after an EUA is issued.

When Can I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidance to states about which groups should get the vaccine and when. Hospital systems like UPMC are working alongside state officials to offer vaccination.

As of June 2022, all Americans 6 monthsand older are eligible for vaccination. For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.

Do I Need to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?


A vaccine is the best way to reach herd immunity against COVID. Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a population is immune to the disease, which can slow or stop the disease’s spread.

Scientists estimate that 70% to 90% of the population will need to become immune to COVID-19 for herd immunity to be reached. For that to happen, getting the vaccine is crucial.

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?


All reported data on the COVID-19 vaccines suggest their vaccines are safe.

All vaccine candidates are rigorously monitored for safety during the trial and approval process. For the FDA to issue an EUA, the manufacturer must prove it is safe in humans. The potential benefit must outweigh the risk.

On April 23, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement lifting a nationwide pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Federal health officials had temporarily paused the distribution to investigate cases of a rare, serious blood clot reported in some people after they received the J&J vaccine. After their investigation, the CDC and FDA determined the risk of blood clots from this vaccine is very low and the known benefits in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks in people 18 and older. The vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have not been linked to blood clots.

The CDC is monitoring reports of the heart conditions myocarditis and pericarditis in people who received the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, especially adolescents and young adults. The Novavax vaccine also has been linked to these conditions.

According to the CDC, the reported cases were rare and happened mostly in male adolescents and young adults 16 and older. Symptoms usually presented within days of vaccination, and patients typically responded well to rest and medications.

The CDC continues to recommend vaccination for Americans 6 months and older.

These vaccines and other candidates will continue to be monitored for long-term side effects and other safety concerns.

Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Work?


The goal of the COVID-19 vaccine is to prevent the disease.

No vaccine is 100% effective. However, all four vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19. They are especially effective in preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

How Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Work?


Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines include messenger RNA (mRNA). Vaccines with mRNA give your body instructions on how to fight the disease — in this case, COVID-19.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both require two doses, given weeks apart, to be effective.

The J&J vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. It uses a substitute virus that has been genetically modified to deliver instructions to your body about how to fight the disease. It is currently a single-dose vaccine.

The Novavax vaccine is a protein-based vaccine. This type of vaccine has been used globally for decades against many diseases. It uses a synthetic version of the coronavirus’ spike protein along with an adjuvant, an ingredient that boosts your immune system’s response. The synthetic spike protein is lab-created; it contains no genetic material and cannot cause disease.

Will UPMC Be Providing the COVID-19 Vaccine?


UPMC is currently distributing the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with guidelines from state and federal health officials.

If you are eligible for the vaccine, you can schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine from UPMC. To sign up, visit our vaccine website.

To date, UPMC has provided hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .

Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines: The Basics. Link

Food and Drug Administration, Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained. Link

Denise Grady, New York Times, Early Data Show Moderna's Coronavirus Vaccine Is 94.5% Effective. Link

Lena H. Sun and Isaac Stanley-Becker, Washington Post, Health Care Workers and Nursing Home Residents Should Be the First to Get Coronavirus Vaccines, CDC Advisory Group Says. Link

Katie Thomas, New York Times, New Pfizer Results: Coronavirus Vaccine Is Safe and 95% Effective. Link

World Health Organization, Vaccines and Immunization. Link

About UPMC

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.