COVID-19 Vaccine

The vaccines available in the United States are safe and effective in preventing severe disease and death due to COVID‑19. As more people get vaccinated, we will be able to return to a more normal life.

Common vaccine side effects include arm soreness, fever, tiredness, headache, muscle aches, and nausea. This is normal and a sign that the immune system has been activated and the vaccine is working as intended. The vast majority of side effects are mild and temporary. It is safe to take fever reducing or pain relief medications after receiving the vaccine to treat mild side effects like a sore arm, headache, muscle aches, or low-grade fever. Since the vaccine does not contain the actual virus, it is impossible to become infected with COVID‑19 through the vaccine.

The protection that the vaccine provides against COVID-19 has been shown to decrease over time, particularly for mild or moderate disease. The CDC continues to evaluate the need for booster vaccinations over time. We do not yet know how often COVID-19 vaccine boosters will be recommended.

In Washington State, as of March 2022, masks are recommended, but no longer required in many public settings regardless of your vaccination status. Masks are still required in health care, long-term care, correctional facilities and on public transportation. The situation with the pandemic is ever evolving, so these recommendations may change in the future. As more individuals in our community become vaccinated, it is likely that more restrictions will lift.

Yes, you should still get the vaccine, even if you have already been infected with COVID‑19. It is not clear how long natural immunity lasts and you could become reinfected with the virus. You should not get the vaccine while you have COVID‑19 symptoms or are still in isolation. Current evidence suggests that patients who survive COVID‑19 are unlikely to get sick again for approximately 90 days after initial infection, so it is reasonable to wait 90 days after a COVID‑19 infection before being vaccinated. It is safe to receive the vaccine earlier than this 90-day period if you would like.

It is important to know that these vaccines were developed with the same safety and review process as every other vaccine we currently administer. No corners were cut.

This rapid vaccine development is really the consequence of scientists having adequate funding and building upon existing medical technologies. Global interest in vaccine development eliminated the typical financial obstacles scientists often face. Scientists were able to combine information they had about coronavirus from the SARS outbreak in 2003 with mRNA technology, already being used in cancer treatments, to develop the new vaccines.

Different administrative steps such as paperwork and vaccine production were also done in tandem with the clinical trials, allowing the vaccine to be available more quickly once it was approved. This would normally not be possible, due to barriers from red tape and financial constraints.

You should still receive the COVID-19 vaccine. There is absolutely no evidence that the vaccine causes infertility. There is growing evidence that getting COVID-19, the disease, does lead to a temporary decrease in male fertility and when contracted during pregnancy, leads to increased rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.

Please see the CDC website for updated links to studies that support the safety of the vaccine when planning for pregnancy.

All pregnant women who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 are strongly recommended to get vaccinated. People who are pregnant are at higher risk of severe disease or dying if they contract COVID-19. There is also a higher rate of miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and premature births with COVID-19. Getting the vaccine helps to prevent severe disease and death from COVID-19. Multiple safety monitoring systems have followed women who received the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy since each vaccine was approved and there has been no evidence that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight. The CDC continues to actively monitor this.

People who are breastfeeding are recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Recent studies have shown that breastfeeding women who received a COVID‑19 mRNA vaccine had antibodies in their breastmilk. These antibodies could help protect their babies. More data is needed to determine what level of protection these antibodies will provide to the baby.

There are some reports of severe allergic reactions to a component in the vaccine. These reports are rare, so far occurring in about 1 in 200,000 patients. Patients are monitored for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine, since any serious allergic reaction should occur within that timeframe. In the case of a severe allergic reaction, vaccine clinics are prepared to treat the patient on-site.

Most people with allergies can receive the vaccine. The only restriction is in people who have had a severe reaction to the vaccine itself or any of its ingredients, including PEG (polyethylene glycol) or polysorbate. Those who have had severe allergic reactions to other vaccines or medications can still receive the vaccine, but should be monitored for 30 minutes afterwards. Other types of allergies are not a restriction to receiving the vaccine.

Immunocompromised individuals are able to get the vaccine, but they are encouraged to discuss this with their healthcare provider. Due to the decreased ability to form immune protection with the vaccine, there may be different recommendations for vaccination schedule for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. It is especially important for immunocompromised people to continue following current guidance on mask wearing and social distancing, even if they have received a vaccine.

Please see the CDC website for the current vaccine schedule in people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.