About the Vaccines

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are available, and millions have been vaccinated. Still, not everyone is convinced they should get the vaccine, and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines continues to make waves on social media.

If you have questions about the vaccines or just want to learn more, here’s some information to get you started.

Safety

There are currently three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. Each has been found to be safe and effective. The goal of any vaccine is to keep you from getting very sick and needing to go to the hospital or dying. All three COVID-19 vaccines –Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson – have been tested and have proven they achieve this goal.

The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for the prevention of COVID-19 for individuals age 6 months and older.

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The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for the prevention of COVID-19 for individuals age 6 months - 5 years and 18 years and older.

Fact Sheet: English | Spanish | Additional languages

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know

The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine received approval for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on February 27, 2021. Janssen is a pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson. The vaccine is authorized for the prevention of COVID-19 for individuals 18 years of age and older.

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Vaccine Approval Timeline

Some people have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine approval processes and want to make sure the urgency of the crisis hasn’t allowed for any cut corners when it comes to safety. It’s understandable to wonder if manufacturers have followed the right steps and if the vaccines are safe.

Side Effects

Side effects are normal—but not everyone will have them.

Children

Adolescents are now able to get a vaccine, and the vaccines are being studied in younger children. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine authorized for those who are under the age of 18.

Science

The vaccines create an immune system response, which is a safe way to build protection from the virus. Vaccines help protect you and those around you, and they are an important tool to help stop the pandemic.

The COVID-19 vaccines have been through every stage of clinical trials that would normally take place for a vaccine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed all required steps, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have been actively involved in the evaluation process.

Clinical trials show that the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are about 95 percent effective at preventing people from getting sick with COVID-19. In clinical trials, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was 85 percent effective in preventing severe disease and essentially 100 percent effective in preventing hospitalization and death.