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1. Can I get the vaccine right now?

Coloradans 12 years and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is available for people who are age 12 and older, The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for those who are 18 or older. Find a vaccine provider near you at www.tchd.org/COVIDvaccine

2. How do we know if vaccines are safe?

• The FDA requires that vaccines undergo a rigorous scientific process, including three phases of clinical trials, before they authorize or approve the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccines are subject to the same safety standards as other vaccine trials. 
• The independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board overseeing Phase 3 trials of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines has not identified or reported any serious safety concerns. All phase 3 studies have Data Safety and Monitoring Boards. The boards are made up of independent scientists hired by the company to look at the safety data and check at regular intervals whether the company should cancel or continue with the study.  
• Additionally, two independent advisory committees will review a vaccine’s safety data before it is made available to the public. These committees are the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which advises the FDA, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the CDC.

3. What are the side effects of the vaccines?

You may experience mild to moderate side effects after receiving the vaccine. Side effects typically go away on their own after a few days. The most commonly reported side effects are: 

• Pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site.
• Pain, tenderness and swelling of the lymph nodes in the same arm of the injection.
• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Muscle pain.
• Chills.
• Joint pain.
• Nausea/vomiting.
• Fever.

Different people may experience different side effects, even if they receive the same vaccine. 

The process of building immunity can cause symptoms. These symptoms are normal and show that your body’s immune system is responding to a vaccine. Other routine vaccines, like the flu vaccine, have similar side effects.

If you experience discomfort after the first dose of the vaccine, it is very important that you still receive the second dose a few weeks later for full protection.

For in-depth information about the side effects of the vaccines, see the CDC’s report on the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine.

4. Should I worry about myocarditis as a side effect of the vaccine?

It is an extremely rare side effect, and only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination. Importantly, for the young people who do, most cases are mild, and individuals recover often on their own or with minimal treatment. In addition, we know that myocarditis and pericarditis are much more common if you get COVID-19, and the risks to the heart from COVID-19 infection can be more severe. Symptoms of myocarditis that should prompt seeking medical evaluation include new symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling of your heart having a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat that occurs within a week after COVID-19 vaccination. Your provider can help determine the cause of these symptoms and whether any treatment is needed.

The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended by the CDC and national physician organizations. We strongly encourage everyone age 12 and older who are eligible to receive the vaccine to get vaccinated, as the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any harm, especially with the troubling Delta variant increasingly circulating.

Read more on the CDC’s webpage about Myocarditis and Pericarditis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Physicians
American Heart Association
American Hospital Association
American Medical Association
American Nurses Association
American Public Health Association
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Infectious Diseases Society of America
National Association of County and City Health Officials

5. Can I get COVID-19 from a vaccine?

No. It is not possible to get COVID-19 from a vaccine, but you may feel some side effects like fever, chills, and fatigue. The current mRNA vaccines use temporary pieces of genetic code from the virus to stimulate your body’s immune response. This cannot cause COVID-19. The goal of the vaccine is to provide your body with the tools it needs to fight the COVID-19 virus if you were to get infected.  

6. How was the vaccine able to get developed so quickly?

• In developing a vaccine for COVID-19, researchers had to work quickly, but not at the risk of anyone’s safety. Medical researchers did not cut any corners or skip any steps. Safety and effectiveness were the top priorities. 

• The timeline for developing COVID-19 vaccines was possible for several reasons: 

  • Researchers relied on years of previous research in other viruses and vaccines to help inform a vaccine development process for COVID-19. 

  • Everyone involved dedicated all their resources and time to developing a COVID-19 vaccine. This includes research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and philanthropic organizations. 

  • Many governments around the world, including the U.S. government, and private funders invested in the vaccine, which allowed pharmaceutical companies to focus on research right away. 

  • Finally, because of the financial support, researchers were able to conduct different parts of the development process on parallel tracks instead of one after another. Usually, each phase in a clinical trial ends before the next phase begins, with several months to a year or more in between each phase. Because of the emergency presented by the pandemic, researchers developed the vaccines on parallel tracks, meaning that they completed the necessary steps at the same time or with some overlap. No steps were skipped in the process of developing the COVID-19 vaccines. 

7. If I have recovered from COVID-19 and completed my isolation period, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?

It is currently unknown how long natural immunity lasts after recovering from COVID-19. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long in some people, and cases of reinfection have been reported. So even if you have had COVID-19 and recovered, you should plan to get a vaccine.

8. Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to get the vaccine?

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, and you will not need to prove lawful presence to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado. Further, public health will never share your information for any immigration or law enforcement purposes.

9. Will the vaccines have any effect on fertility?

Currently, there is no scientific reason or evidence to suggest COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have any effect on fertility. Clinicians and researchers will continue to closely monitor for any issues. Please talk with your doctor about any concerns.

10. How do I become a vaccine provider?

The state is enrolling all vaccine providers. For more information visit the state’s website.