COVID-19 Vaccine

It is strongly recommended that you get vaccinated. The vaccine will help protect you from getting COVID-19. If you still get infected after you get vaccinated, the vaccine may prevent serious illness. By getting vaccinated, you can also help protect people around you. 

There may be side effects, but they should go away within a few days. Possible side effects include a sore arm, headache, fever, or body aches. This does not mean you have COVID-19. Side effects are signs that the vaccine is working to build immunity. If they don’t go away in a week, or you have more serious symptoms, call your doctor. 

Because vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection (immune response), some people experience symptoms of a real infection without being infected. In clinical trials, the COVID-19 vaccines were found to cause side effects like fatigue, chills, fever, muscle and joint pain, and headache (in addition to injection site pain and swelling) in some people. These side effects are temporary and are a normal part of our bodies building immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. 

No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use or in development in the United States use the live virus that causes COVID-19. However, it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick. 

Yes. The CDC recommends that you get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19, because you can catch it more than once. While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection will last. 

No. While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection lasts. Vaccination is the best protection, and it is safe. People who get COVID-19 can have serious illnesses, and some have debilitating symptoms that persist for months.

Yes. COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with underlying health problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity. People with these conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

In most cases, yes. The CDC recommends that people with a history of allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications – such as food, pet, venom, environmental, or latex allergies – get vaccinated. People with a history of allergies to oral medications or a family history of severe allergic reactions can also get vaccinated. 

People who have had an allergic reaction to other types of vaccines should ask their primary care provider if they can get a COVID-19 vaccine. 

People who are allergic to any vaccine ingredient, including PEG or polysorbate, should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Ingredient lists are available for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. 

Yes. The CDC advises that people with autoimmune conditions may receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. However, please be aware that no data are currently available on the safety of mRNA vaccines for this population, though they were eligible for enrollment in clinical trials. 

Yes. Current data suggest that people with HIV and those with weakened immune systems due to other illnesses or medication might be at increased risk for severe COVID-19 and should be vaccinated when they are eligible. However, data about the safety of mRNA vaccines for this population are limited at this time.

Additionally, people with weakened immune systems may have a reduced immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine and will need to continue practicing safety precautions. 

Yes. Pregnant people with COVID-19 have an increased risk for severe illness compared to non-pregnant people of reproductive age. Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 might be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth.

Based on how mRNA vaccines work, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a unique risk for pregnant people. However, more research must be completed to know the actual risks of mRNA vaccines to pregnant people and the fetus. 

Pregnant people with an additional underlying condition may qualify for vaccination during phase 1B in the state of New Hampshire. You can check which phase you fall into here: https://www.vaccines.nh.gov. 

As of February 27, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency use authorization (EUA) to the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson.

On April 23, 2021, the CDC and FDA lifted the recommended pause on administering the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The pause was initially recommended on April 13 after reports of six cases of a “rare and severe” type of blood clot among women who had received the vaccine. The CDC and FDA examined available data to assess the risk of blood clotting during the pause and ultimately determined that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks. New Hampshire health officials plan to resume administering the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine in late April or early May. Click here for more information regarding the safety of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Other vaccinations have been approved for use in other countries and there are dozens of other vaccines currently in various stages of development and testing.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines that are administered in two doses. The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that is administered in one dose.

While the Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in people 16 years of age and older, the Moderna and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for people 18 years of age and older.

Clinical trials found that all three vaccines have similar rates of efficacy and have similar side effect profiles.

Vaccines work by tricking our bodies into thinking we have been infected by a virus so our infection-fighting blood cells will produce protective antibodies against the virus without us actually becoming infected.

The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. It uses a modified virus to deliver a gene that instructs our cells to make a protein that triggers the production of antibodies and an immune response. The virus used in the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine cannot cause illness in humans.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. Instead of using a weakened or inactivated virus to trigger an immune response, mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein that prompts antibody production and an immune response. The first dose of the vaccine helps our immune system recognize the virus, and the second shot strengthens the immune response. mRNA vaccines do not affect or interact with our DNA in any way.

As of May 13, 2021, the CDC advises that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or socially distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after their single Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

All visitors to any SolutionHealth facility are required to wear masks.

Though the COVID-19 vaccines were developed rapidly, all steps have been taken to ensure their safety and effectiveness. In the United States, the FDA and CDC continue to monitor vaccine safety to ensure any long-term side effects are identified and appropriate action is taken.

All COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people to make sure they meet safety standards and protect adults of different ages, races, and ethnicities. There were no serious safety concerns. CDC and the FDA will keep monitoring the vaccines to look for safety issues after they are authorized and in use. 

Vaccine recipients have the opportunity to enroll in v-safe. This is a smartphone tool you can use to tell the CDC if you have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. If you report serious side effects, someone from CDC will call to follow up. You will be provided with enrollment instructions when you receive your first shot. You can also find instructions here.

Individuals can also report any side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

Under typical circumstances, vaccines undergo many years of laboratory testing, clinical trials, and review before being approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, due to the urgency and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the currently available vaccines were developed in less than a year and received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA. EUA allows vaccines to bypass the multi-year process and be used during public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though these vaccines were developed and approved on an accelerated timeline, they were still rigorously tested for safety and efficacy. The FDA does not approve vaccines that are not proven safe and effective during clinical trials.

More information about how vaccines are developed and available by EUA can be found here, here, and here.

Your body’s normal, healthy response to the COVID-19 vaccine may involve enlargement of the lymph nodes, particularly in the underarm on the side of the injection. This may be picked up on your screening mammogram and additional testing may be required. To avoid unnecessary stress, Dr. Marina Feldman, a radiologist who specializes in breast imaging and Director of Breast Imaging at the Elliot Breast Health Center, suggests if you are due for a screening mammogram, you should schedule the mammogram prior to vaccination or six weeks after your vaccination is complete. Annual screening mammograms are your best defense against breast cancer and should not be skipped. However, if you need to reschedule your screening mammogram due to your vaccination timeline, call 603.608.3067 (Manchester & Londonderry) or 603.577.2665 (Nashua).

Yes. According to Dr. Marina Feldman of the Elliot Breast Health Center, you should get the vaccination in the arm opposite your surgical side. If both sides were involved, the injection can be administered in your buttocks or thigh.