COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs Should I trust a vaccine that was produced so quickly? Yes, this rigorous and safe method of vaccine development and approval has been in use for almost two decades. Additionally, because COVID-19 is so contagious and widespread, it did not take long to see if the vaccine worked for the study volunteers who were vaccinated. More than 4.1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given globally, and almost 350 million have been given in the U.S.
Are there any side effects I can expect from the vaccine? Like the flu shot, the vaccine is administered into a large muscle in the upper arm. As is the case with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur. Some may experience mild fever, soreness, muscle aches, headaches, chills, fatigue/tiredness, muscle or joint pain, redness and/or swelling at the injection site. These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and expected in some patients. If you have pain or discomfort, you can take your normal pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You can apply a clean, cool compress over the injection site if needed. Remember to drink plenty of fluids. We 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.
Does the vaccine alter my DNA? Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Once those instructions are transcribed, both the mRNA and viral vector vaccines degrade rapidly in your body. The mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. The viral vectors used in COVID-19 vaccines are non-replicating and don’t have the machinery to insert its DNA into our cellular DNA. Both types of vaccines get broken down by your body’s cells and are gone within a few days.
Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine? None of the vaccines being used in the U.S. contain a live virus, and therefore, they cannot infect anyone with COVID-19. Vaccinated individuals may experience mild, temporary side effects, but this is an indication of the immune response to the vaccination, not COVID-19.
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