Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed too quickly and steps were skipped.
Fact: Although the COVID-19 vaccine was developed quickly, no steps were
skipped in the typical vaccine development process overseen by the FDA.
Myth: If I get the COVID-19 vaccine, I will get COVID-19.
Fact: You won’t get COVID-19 from the vaccine. However, you may develop
mild side effects related to your body’s immune response, such as
fatigue, fever, or pain at the injection site. If mild side effects occur,
they usually only last a day or two. Serious side effects are rare.
In England, the first country to give the Pfizer vaccine Emergency Use
Authorization, a regulatory agency issued a warning that people with a
history of serious allergic reactions should not get the vaccine.
We won't know definitively all the possible side effects until studies
are complete and the data are made available by the FDA and the manufacturer.
We do know there is a small risk of side effects associated with all vaccines,
but the side effects are often less serious than the diseases themselves.
Myth: All vaccines contain live viruses.
Fact: There are several types of vaccines. The two leading vaccines from
Pfizer and Moderna do not contain live virus. They contain genetic material
called messenger RNA (mRNA), which helps the body manufacture harmless
viral proteins that promote the development of protective antibodies.
There is another COVID-19 vaccine that is built on a platform that contains
a weakened form of a common cold virus found in chimpanzees.
Myth: I already had COVID-19, so I don’t need to be vaccinated.
Fact: Even if you already had COVID-19, it is still important to get a
COVID-19 vaccine. After you are infected with COVID-19, your body creates
antibodies to help you fight the infection. These antibodies may provide
some protection against future infection, but researchers are not sure
how long that protection lasts. A COVID-19 vaccine will provide longer-lasting
protection against future infection.
Myth: Life will return to normal right after I get my vaccine.
Fact: Not so fast. In order to receive the best possible protection, you
will need a second dose of the vaccine a few weeks after you receive the
first dose. Also, because not everyone will receive a vaccine right away,
social distancing, hand washing, wearing a mask, and other precautions
will need to remain in place to protect those who have not yet been vaccinated.
As more people get vaccinated and infection rates fall, it may be possible
to ease some restrictions.