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COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

The most important thing is to get vaccinated! Vaccines are available at no cost, regardless of immigration status, for anyone 12 years of age and older. Our hotline operators are available to answer your questions about the vaccine.

Vaccine effectiveness:

  • The COVID-19 Vaccine works. Over 183 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. COVID 19 vaccines are highly effective and working well. All COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use in the United States help protect people against COVID-19, including severe illness.
  • Breakthrough cases are expected, especially before population immunity reaches sufficient levels to further decrease transmission. However, vaccine breakthrough infections occur in only a small fraction of all vaccinated persons and account for a small percentage of all COVID-19 cases.
  • There are over 183.9 million Americans vaccinated and breakthrough infections among those vaccinated is far less than 1% while death is virtually 0%. If you get vaccinated, your risk of infection, symptomatic disease, and especially hospitalization or death are far lower than in the unvaccinated.

Masks for Vaccinated?

  • In substantial to high transmission areas everyone should wear a mask indoor in public places to help prevent the spread of the delta variant. Although the chance of contracting COVID-19 is low once an individual has been vaccinated, it is not zero.
  • Masks are useful for containing the Delta variant and are especially effective in school settings when used with other measures, including vaccinations and being outside when possible.

If You've Been Fully Vaccinated:

  • You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
  • To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
  • You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
  • People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
  • If you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta variant, you can spread the virus to others.
  • You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses.
  • If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others.
  • Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).
  • Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested 3 days before travel by air into the United States (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.
  • You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others. If your test is positive, isolate at home for 10 days.
  • People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.

COVID-19

  • The disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 for people of color mirror and compound underlying inequities in social and economic circumstances that leave people of color at higher risk of being exposed to the virus, experiencing serious illness if they contract the virus, facing barriers to accessing health care, and experiencing financial challenges due to the economic disruption caused by the pandemic.
  • Hispanics have a hospitalization rate approximately 4 times that of non-Hispanic white persons.

NYC (Key to the city vaccination mandate)

  • Patrons and employees must be vaccinated and show proof for indoor dinning, gyms, and entertainment venues. All current city employees will be required to be vaccinated or “test out” on a regular basis by September 13, 2021.
  • All NYC DOE staff must show proof of at least 1 dose by September 27th.
  • All newly hired city employees to provide proof of at least one dose of the vaccination upon hire and proof of full vaccination within 30 days thereafter.

Vaccine Numbers

  • According to the CDC 64.4% of the US population that is eligible to receive the vaccine has received at least one dose. 55.5% of those are fully vaccinated (183.9 million)

Booster Shot

  • Booster recommendations for recipients of the Pfizer vaccine (only) have been finalized.
  • CDC recommends that the following groups should receive a booster at least 6 months after received their 2nd dose:
    • People aged 65 years old, Residents in long-term care settings 18 years and older, people aged 50-4 years with underlying medical conditions; people 18-49 with underlying conditions, people aged 18-64 years at risk for COVID exposure because of occupation or institution setting.
    • These patients should talk to their providers first and are able to get their booster shot immediately.
  • Moderna and J&J booster has not been approved by the FDA.
  • FDA or CDC have not recommended booster shots for the general population

Delta Variant

  • A variant is another version of the original virus that occurs through mutation. In the case of the Delta variant, it’s a more contagious version of the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • Vaccines are highly effective against severe illness, but the Delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. When these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild.
  • Breakthrough infections (an infection after being fully vaccinated) are anticipated even with a highly effective vaccine; they are extremely rare but have occurred. Most vaccinated people who are infected do not have symptoms, and those that do tend to have mild illness.
  • It is very rare to get infected after being fully vaccinated but if you are infected, you can spread the virus to others. A mask is recommended indoors in public spaces where transmission is high or substantial.

Vaccine for Children

  • Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Children 12 years and older are now eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • Like adults, children may have some side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. These side effects may affect their ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.
  • Over 9 million teens have received the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States and side effects are rare.
  • COVID-19 vaccines have been used under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, including studies in children 12 years and older. Your child cannot get COVID-19 from any COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine for Pregnant Women

  • The CDC recommends that all pregnant women or people who are thinking of becoming pregnant and who are breastfeeding get vaccinated to protect themselves against COVID 19 The CDC has found that there is no increased risk of miscarriage.

Vaccines for Undocumented Individuals

  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pledged that undocumented immigrants will have equal access to COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine distribution sites. Vaccination sites are free of immigration enforcement, and you won’t be deported if you get the vaccine.
  • Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine does not count as a public charge.
  • You don’t need health insurance to receive the vaccine. The vaccine is provided free of charge, which also means you don’t have to pay any provider fees or copay.
  • Documentation isn’t required. Your vaccination provider may ask for some form of documentation, like an ID, but you don’t have to provide proof of immigration status. Your personal information is secure.
  • For public health purposes, you might be asked about your medical history and personal information (such as age, address, and job). This data will not be used for civil, criminal, or immigration enforcement purposes.

Dispelling Myths

I have a strong system, I will probably be fine if I catch COVID-19

Unfortunately, we do not know how COVID-19 will affect each individual. This pandemic is not an individual problem but a society issue. COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. While many of us will be okay, we could be passing on the virus to others that may not be okay. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.

The vaccine may cause me harm

Over 183.9 million people have been fully vaccinated in the United States. Some people have no side effects. Many people have reported side effects that may affect their ability to do daily activities, but go away within a few days. The most commonly reported side effects, are pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever.

I already had COVID-19 so I do not need to get vaccinated

You should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19.