Vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine received FDA approval for people age 16 and older on August 23, 2021. This vaccine is also called Comirnaty. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine still has EUA for people 12 to 15 years old, which was issued on May 10, 2021.

Doses to be Fully Vaccinated
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires two doses about 21 days apart. It takes 14 days after your second dose to be protected from COVID-19.

How It Works
mRNA vaccines are introduced into the body to tell the body to make a harmless piece of “spike protein.” Your immune system sees the spike protein doesn’t belong in your body and starts building an immune response. This means that the next time you come in contact with the virus that causes COVID-19, your body knows how to fight it off. Scientists have been researching this type of vaccine for decades.

How Well It Works
In clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 after two doses. It was equally effective among people of different races, ethnicities, genders and health conditions. The level of protection against the current variants of the virus is being tested.

Side Effects
Some participants in clinical trials showed a strong immune response, which often leads lead to some side effects. The second dose may result in a stronger immune response than the first dose. Side effects are normal and show that your body is building immunity to COVID-19.

Common side effects reported by some trial participants were:

• Pain at the injection site (84.1%)
• Fatigue (62.9%)
• Headache (55.1%)
• Chills (31.9%)
• Joint Pain (23.6%)
• Fever (14.2%)

Recommended for:

• People of all races, ethnicities, and ages, 12 and older, including older adults
• People with medical conditions
• People who are pregnant and breastfeeding
• People with weakened immune systems
• People who had COVID-19 infection and have recovered
• People who received the AstraZeneca vaccine may choose to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine

Not recommended for:
Children age 11 and younger. Pfizer-BioNTech started clinical trials with children under 12 years old in March 2021.

Talk to your health care provider if you:

• Have had a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine or ingredients, including polyethylene glycol or polysorbate.
• Have questions.

Ingredients
Similar to other vaccine ingredients: mRNA protein, fats, salts, and sugars. It contains polyethylene glycol and polysorbate. The vaccine does not have any fetal tissue, animal products, eggs, gelatin, latex, microchips, or preservatives

Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Information

• Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization Factsheet for Recipients - This factsheet includes information about EUAs, who should and shouldn't get a vaccine, vaccine ingredients, risk and benefits of the vaccine and possible side effects.
• Also in Arabic, Burmese, French, Kirundi, Nepali, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese and several other languages (from the FDA) and more languages.

The Moderna vaccine received EUA on December 18, 2020. 

Doses to be Fully Vaccinated
The Moderna vaccine requires two doses about 28 days apart. It takes 14 days after your second dose to be protected from COVID-19.

How it Works
mRNA vaccines are introduced into the body to tell the body to make a harmless piece of “spike protein.” Your immune system sees the spike protein doesn’t belong in your body and starts building an immune response. This means that the next time you come in contact with the virus that causes COVID-19, your body knows how to fight it off. Scientists have been researching this type of vaccine for decades.

How Well It Works
In clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine was 94% effective at preventing COVID-19 after two doses. It was highly effective among people of different races, ethnicities, ages, genders and medical conditions. The level of protection against the current variants of the virus is being tested.

Side Effects
Some participants in clinical trials showed a strong immune response, which often leads lead to some side effects. The second dose may result in a stronger immune response than the first shot. Side effects are normal and show that your body is building immunity to COVID-19.

Common side effects reported by some trial participants were:

• Pain at the injection site (92%)
• Fatigue (70%)
• Headache (64.7%)
• Muscle pain (61.5%)
• Joint pain (46.4%)
• Chills (45.4%)
• Nausea/Vomiting (23%)
• Fever (15.5%)

Recommended for:

• People age 18 and older, including older adults
• People of all races and ethnicities
• People with medical conditions
• People who are pregnant and breastfeeding
• People with weakened immune systems
• People who had COVID-19 infection and have recovered
• People who received the AstraZeneca vaccine may choose to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine

Not recommended for:
Children age 17 and younger. Moderna is currently running clinical vaccine trials with adolescents 12 to 17 years old. They also started a separate trial with children under 12 years old in March 2021.

Talk to your health care provider if you:

• Had a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine or ingredients, including polyethylene glycol or polysorbate.
• Have questions

Ingredients
Similar to other vaccine ingredients: mRNA protein, fats, salts, and sugars. It contains polyethylene glycol and polysorbate. The vaccine does not have any fetal tissue, animal products, eggs, gelatin, latex, microchips, or preservatives.

Moderna Vaccine Information

• Moderna Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization Factsheet for Recipients - This factsheet includes information about EUAs, who should and shouldn't get a vaccine, vaccine ingredients, risk and benefits of the vaccine and possible side effects.
• Also in Arabic, Burmese, French, Kirundi, Nepali, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese and several other languages (from the FDA) and more languages.

The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Biotech, Inc.) vaccine received EUA on February 27, 2021.

Doses to be Fully Vaccinated
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose. It takes about 14 days after you get your vaccine to be protected.

How It Works
Vector vaccines use a modified virus like a cold virus that can’t make copies of itself or infect you. The vector virus tells your body to make harmless pieces of “spike proteins.” Your immune system sees the spike protein doesn’t belong in your body and starts building an immune response. This means that the next time you come in contact with the COVID-19 virus your body knows how to fight it off. Scientists have been researching this type of vaccine for decades. This type of vaccine was recently approved to prevent Ebola.

How Well It Works
In U.S. clinical trials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 72% effective against moderate illness, was 85% effective against severe COVID-19 and 100% effective against hospitalization and death. These tests were done while the variants were circulating, so these efficacy rates take variants into account.

Side Effects
The FDA reports milder side effects than those found in the two-dose mRNA vaccines. Common side effects reported in clinical trials were:

• Pain at the injection site (48.6%)
• Tiredness (38.2%)
• Headache (38.9)
• Muscle pain (33.2%)
• Nausea (14.2%)

As vaccinations are being administered across the country, a small number of people had a rare and severe type of blood clot up to two weeks after vaccination. This side effect is extremely rare. People who get a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks of receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should immediately contact their health care provider.

Recommended for:

• People age 18 and older, including older adults
• People of all races, and ethnicities
• People with medical conditions.
• People who are pregnant and breastfeeding
• People with weakened immune systems
• People who had COVID-19 infection and have recovered

Not recommended for:
Children age 17 and younger. Johnson & Johnson is running clinical vaccine trials with adolescents 12 to 17 years old.

Talk to your health care provider if you:

• Had a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine or ingredients, including polysorbate.
• Have questions

Ingredients
Similar to other vaccine ingredients: modified cold virus, proteins, fats, and salts. It contains polysorbate. The vaccine does not have any fetal tissue, pork products, eggs, gelatin, latex, microchips or preservatives.

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Information

• Johnson & Johnson Emergency Use Authorization Factsheet for Recipients - This factsheet includes information about EUAs, who should and shouldn't get a vaccine, vaccine ingredients, risk and benefits of the vaccine and possible side effects.
• Available in several languages.

The CDC and FDA continue to assess the vaccines’ effectiveness as they are distributed. There are several things that can affect how well vaccines work in real-world settings (as opposed to clinical trial settings). The vaccines being administered now are going to millions of people, while trials enrolled tens of thousands each. The sheer number of people being vaccinated now may mean individual reactions that were different from those who participated in the trials. A vaccine’s effectiveness also depends on things like variants, the amount of virus in your community, or differences in administering vaccines like dosing schedules and vaccine handling in different settings.

Years of research into vaccines have brought us to where we are today. Scientists began researching coronavirus vaccines starting with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012. When these viruses disappeared, the pressure to find a coronavirus vaccine decreased. When COVID-19 was identified, the global focus on eliminating this new coronavirus and ending the pandemic, combined with large amounts of funding, helped speed up the research process to create a safe and effective vaccine.

Here are the steps to make sure vaccines are safe and effective:

Step 1: Vaccine Safety

With a brand-new vaccine, researchers give it to a small number of volunteers — usually 20 to 100 — to test for any serious side effects. This step also helps determine the right dose or amount of vaccine to use.

Step 2: Vaccine Effectiveness

Once they know a vaccine isn’t likely to cause any serious side effects, researchers then give it to hundreds of people to determine how well the vaccine works (or its effectiveness). Researchers continue to monitor for any short-term side effects.

Step 3: Double Check Safety and Effectiveness

This is the last step before researchers can apply for approval from the FDA and begin to use it. To make sure the vaccine is safe and effective for people across ages, ethnicities, genders, and other factors, they give it to tens of thousands of people. This uncovers less common side effects and confirms once again that it’s safe and works well for everyone.

Step 4: Continue to Check Safety and Effectiveness

Even after researchers have answered the big questions, they keep studying the vaccine. They gather longer-term data to make sure the vaccine continues to work well.

Sometimes, when a vaccine is urgently needed, researchers combine steps to speed up the approval process. This doesn’t mean that they’re skipping any important steps. It does mean researchers and public health organizations are working together at an extraordinary level to get a safe, e­ffective vaccine to the people who need it the most.

Yes. Current data continue to show that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and continue to provide protection against the variants currently spreading in the United States, including Delta.  

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others against the virus and its variants. This is because the vaccine prevents severe illness, hospitalization and death. It also helps slow the spread of the virus in our communities. While infections in fully vaccinated people do happen, most cases are mild which means that the vaccines are working as they should.

Viruses constantly change through mutation. New variants and strains are expected. Many emerge and disappear, but others can persist and even become the most common strain. Right now, there are a few different variants of concern. Some variants spread more easily from one person to another. The less a virus spreads, the fewer chances it has to mutate into different variants. This is why getting vaccinated is so important. 

The Delta variant is much more contagious. It spreads about twice as easily from one person to another than other variants. The real danger of Delta is among those who are not vaccinated. This is the biggest driver of virus spread – which allows for more mutations like the Delta variant, and drives case increases, hospitalizations and deaths.

The Health Department detects any potential variants of concern through genetic sequencing of certain viral specimens. To see the estimated proportion of virus lineages circulating in Vermont, see the Variant Proportions in the U.S. (CDC).

Learn more from the CDC about COVID-19 variants

Children’s immune systems are different at different ages. They are also different from adults. This means that the vaccine studies need to be repeated with children.

Children age 12 and older can get the Pfizer vaccine. Clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine among kids ages 12 to 15 showed that the vaccine is safe and effective for that age group. None of the children who got the Pfizer vaccine during the clinical trial got sick with COVID-19. Getting vaccinated means more freedom so Vermont kids can be kids.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are each running clinical vaccine trials with adolescents 12 to 17 years old. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have clinical trials of their vaccines for younger children going on now. The Health Department is working on plans to distribute the vaccine to children 2 to 11 years old when it becomes available to that age group. 

What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids
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The Science Behind the COVID-19 Vaccine: Parent FAQs (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Learn more about the benefits of getting your teen vaccinated from Dr. Andrea Green and the Vermont Multilingual Coronavirus Task Force:
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Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, spaced about 3 to 4 weeks apart. We strongly recommend Vermonters get both doses for the highest level of protection from COVID-19.

Two doses of these vaccines are scientifically proven to be highly effective in preventing COVID-19. Since the beginning, we have followed the science. Participants in the clinical trials who did not receive both doses were not followed for a long period of time, so we do not know for sure how well or how long one dose will protect you.

A two-dose vaccine is not new. For some vaccines, like hepatitis B, shingles and HPV, two doses produce a longer-lasting protection. While the first dose gets your immune system ready and offers some protection, the second dose boosts that protection by using your body’s new immune cells it created after the first dose. This “booster” increases the strength of your new antibody protection and makes it last longer.

Taking the full course of vaccine offers better protection against variants of the virus. In fact, being only partially vaccinated, for example getting only one dose of a two-dose vaccine, could increase the risk of vaccine-resistant variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. This is because the virus could be weakened with some antibody protection, but not stopped completely, creating the potential for the virus to mutate.

Some people experience stronger side effects after the second shot. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have equal doses in their first and second shots, but for some, stronger side effects are part of their body’s normal immune reaction to that “boost” in protection. Common side effects reported were pain at the injection site, fever, chills, tiredness and headache. These side effects typically go away within a few days.

Whether you experience side effects or not, rest assured the vaccine is working to protect you, your family and your community.

You are fully vaccinated 14 days after your final shot. This is because it takes time for the vaccine to train your body to fight COVID-19. Once you are fully vaccinated, it is generally safe for you to return to the activities you enjoyed before the pandemic.  

Cases of COVID-19 have been rising this summer, in large part because of the highly transmissible Delta variant. The vast majority of cases continue to be among people who are unvaccinated. A smaller percentage of cases have occurred among vaccinated people. However, data shows that the vaccine does what it’s supposed to do. People who are fully vaccinated are highly protected from severe illness, hospitalization and death.

Remember, it is still possible to get and transmit the virus, so the Health Department recommends taking the following prevention steps:

• Wear a mask when you are in public indoor settings.
• Wash your hands regularly,
• Stay home if you feel sick,
• Get tested if you have any symptoms.

Learn more about how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

If you are fully vaccinated and are now a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you may need to get tested and quarantine. Learn more about what to do if you’re a close contact.

Health care settings may follow separate guidance. Read CDC's guidance for health care workers. 

Be sure to carry your COVID-19 vaccination card with you in case a business or venue asks to see it.

Learn more about the variants of the COVID-19 virus.

Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at preventing serious disease, including hospitalization and death. But no vaccine is 100% effective. That means some people who are vaccinated may become infected with COVID-19. This is called a “vaccine breakthrough.” This happens with any vaccine including measles, mumps, flu and others. Fortunately, the percentage of people who get COVID-19 after being vaccinated should stay low. Among those who get COVID-19 after being vaccinated, few will get very sick.

The Delta variant is causing infections in a small number of fully vaccinated people, but most cases are mild. This means that the vaccines are working as they should. Nearly all hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among people who are unvaccinated. New data also show that some people infected with the Delta variant could possibly spread the virus to other people.

Some studies show that fully vaccinated people with weakened immune systems make up a large portion of people who are hospitalized from being infected with COVID-19 after they are vaccinated. They also may be more likely to transmit the virus. The CDC now recommends people with moderately our severely weakened immune systems may need a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. 

The COVID-19 Data Summaries include a section on fully vaccinated Vermonters who got infected with COVID-19.

Community Immunity

Vaccine protection is more than one person being vaccinated. The more virus going around in the community, the higher your chances of coming into close contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19. When enough people in a community are protected against a contagious disease, it becomes harder for it to spread. It is this "community immunity" that helps protect us all from getting sick.

Variants

Current data continue to show that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and continue to provide protection against the variants currently spreading in the United States, including Delta. Vermont’s number of specimens connected to a COVID-19 infection after vaccination is too small to make any conclusions about the role variants play in causing infections among fully vaccinated people.

The Health Department sequences specimens and prioritizes any that are connected with an infection after vaccination. Learn more about the variants circulating in Vermont.

Learn more from the CDC about:

• What you should know about the possibility of COVID-19 illness after vaccination
• Vaccine breakthrough cases

According to some studies published in May 2021, immunity to the COVID-19 virus lasts at least a year, and maybe longer — whether you got that immunity from being infected or from getting vaccinated.

If you did have COVID-19, the studies suggest your level of protection will be much higher by getting vaccinated and you shouldn’t even need a booster shot. People who are vaccinated and never got infected will most likely need a booster shot, but most likely after a longer period of time than was previously thought.

These studies show good evidence that we are protected now, and our bodies can recognize and stop this virus in the longer term. Even if antibody levels decrease in your bloodstream, there are potent immune cells with memory in your bone marrow that get activated if you encounter the virus again or a variant strain.

Learn more about the studies:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection induces long-lived bone marrow plasma cells in humans
• Vaccination boosts naturally enhanced neutralizing breadth to SARS-CoV-2 one year after infection

The recommendation for a booster shot depends on your health and the type of vaccine you received. Learn whether you should get a booster shot.

General Public

On August 18, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement on the Administration’s plan for COVID-19 booster shots, pending FDA approval and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. Read the statement

Although data continues to show the vaccines are highly effective in reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death, scientists are seeing a decrease in protection against mild and moderate illness from COVID-19 over time, especially due to the Delta variant. Because of this, HHS is planning to begin offering booster shots this fall to people who received their vaccine more than 8 months ago. This will provide longer-lasting protection against COVID-19. People who were the earliest to be fully vaccinated will likely be eligible for a booster shot then. Vermont will share information about how to get a booster shot as soon as those plans are ready.

It is also anticipated that booster shots will be needed for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More data on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is expected in the next few weeks and we will share information on the plan once it’s announced.

People with Moderately to Severely Compromised Immune Systems

See videos on this topic in many languages

The CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems should receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at least 28 days after their first two doses. This includes people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

If you have one of the conditions listed above, talk to your health care provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for you. The additional dose must be the same type as your previous dose. For example, if your first two doses were the Pfizer vaccine, then the additional dose must also be Pfizer, and if your first two doses were Moderna, then the additional dose must also be Moderna. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there is no recommendation to get an additional dose at this time.

Additional doses of vaccine are available at some state-run vaccination clinics. Some health care providers and pharmacies are also offering additional doses. You can search for a location by vaccine type. Be sure to call first to find out if additional doses are available. In Vermont, when you get your third dose at a pharmacy or state-run vaccine clinic, you will be asked to agree that you fit the CDC description of someone with a moderately to severely compromised immune system. You will not be asked for proof.

Learn more from the CDC about COVID-19 vaccines for moderately to severely immunocompromised people.

NEW: Videos on third doses for people who are immunocompromised
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From the Vermont Multilingual Task Force

Try to keep your vaccine card in a safe place so you don’t lose it, like in your wallet or stored with other important documents. You can also take a picture of it with your smartphone. Carry your COVID-19 vaccination card with you in case a business or venue asks to see it.

If you lost your vaccine card or your information is wrong, the Vermont Immunization Registry (IMR) has your vaccination record. Follow the instructions to request your vaccination record from the IMR or call 888-688-4667, option 3. You can get a copy of your record as an encrypted email (within 1 to 2 hours on weekdays) or through the mail (within one week).

Some pharmacies may also offer to replace a COVID-19 vaccination card, but not all pharmacies or locations provide this service. Check before you go to be sure.

If you choose to get your vaccine card laminated, please note that the ink used to write in your dose could run when heat is applied. Also, if booster shots are needed, they won’t be able to be recorded if the card is laminated.

If you are a Vermont resident and got the COVID-19 vaccine in another state, connect with your health care provider in Vermont to make sure your vaccination is on record. This will ensure that both your medical records are updated and your vaccine is recorded in the Vermont Immunization Registry.