What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines

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Currently, three COVID-19 vaccines are available for use in the U.S. - Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. They're helpful tools for preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID. The Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine is no longer authorized for use.

As the virus that causes COVID continues to spread and mutate (change), the best way to protect yourself and those around you is to get vaccinated. And if you have questions or concerns about the COVID vaccines, it's important that you get the facts to help you make the best decision.

Below, we answer some of the commonly asked questions about the COVID vaccines.

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Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccination?

You can get COVID vaccines at locations that usually offer flu vaccinations, such as a local pharmacy, doctor's office, or health clinic. You can use the CDC-sponsored Vaccines.gov tool to identify specific locations near you. You can perform a broad search or filter by age range and preferred vaccine.

What's more, many local health departments and pharmacies are coordinating COVID vaccination efforts with long-term care facilities, such as assisted living centers and nursing homes.

How much do the vaccines cost? Will insurance cover it?

COVID vaccines are free for many people in the U.S. Most insurance plans will cover them at no added cost to you.

If you don't have health insurance or are underinsured, you should still be able to receive a free COVID vaccine. Federally qualified health centers and local healthcare professionals in your area are good starting points to look into.

Keep in mind that the current government program that offers free COVID vaccines to uninsured adults is set to end in August 2024. But another proposed federal program may take its place. And certain states - such as California, New York, and Florida - offer their own vaccine programs for uninsured and underinsured adults.

Eligible children can continue to get free vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.

Who can receive a COVID vaccine?

Adults and kids ages 6 months and older are eligible to receive KP.2-focused Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines. These newly updated vaccines replaced the XBB-focused vaccines that were authorized in September 2023.

An updated, JN.1-focused Novavax vaccine is expected to be authorized by the start of the vaccination season for people ages 12 and older.

Keep in mind: Vaccine recommendations can be confusing. For more personalized information, make sure to ask your healthcare professional.

Information for the 2024-2025 season

The FDA and CDC updated their COVID vaccine recommendations in mid-2024. They did this in advance of the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season. Everyone ages 6 months and older can receive at least one dose of an updated 2024-2025 Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

More specifically, people ages 5 years and older can receive one updated Pfizer or Moderna dose if it's been at least 2 months since your last COVID vaccine. This is regardless of how many doses you've received in the past, or if you've ever received a COVID vaccine at all.

Kids ages 6 months through 4 years old can receive one or more updated 2024-2025 vaccine doses. But the specific number of doses they'll need - and when they should receive them - will depend on their vaccination history.

What's more, certain kids ages 6 months to 11 years old who are immunocompromised can also receive additional doses. Their pediatrician can determine the number of doses they should receive.

How effective are the vaccines?

To measure how well COVID vaccines work, health experts compare the number of infections and symptomatic cases in a vaccinated group to those in an unvaccinated group. They use a similar strategy when analyzing hospitalizations and death rates.

In initial studies, original versions of all three vaccines were highly effective at preventing symptomatic COVID. For instance, the Pfizer vaccine was about 95% effective against symptomatic COVID when it first hit the market. The Moderna and Novavax vaccines were about 94% effective and 90% effective against symptomatic COVID, respectively.

For comparison, the seasonal flu vaccine is about 40% to 60% effective at preventing infection. This varies based on the specific strains each year. Other vaccines are more effective, such as measles (97%) and chickenpox (92%).

In terms of effectiveness in the "real world," studies are ongoing. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to mutate (change), COVID vaccine effectiveness is a moving target. For example, it dropped slightly against Omicron when compared with protection against Delta. And effectiveness is continuing to fluctuate as newer Omicron subvariants emerge, including KP.3.1.1, KP.2, JN.1, and more.

Even so, studies prove that the vaccines are a valuable tool in preventing serious illness and death from COVID, especially in those who have received vaccine boosters or additional doses.

What are the potential side effects of COVID vaccines?

Side effects are a normal part of how your immune system responds to a vaccine. Most COVID vaccine side effects are mild to moderate in severity and only last for a few days. Common side effects include:

• Pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given

• Headache

• Muscle aches

• Fatigue (feeling tired)

• Nausea

• Fever or chills

Although they are rare, severe side effects can happen too. They include:

• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis): The CDC provides recommendations for people with allergies to vaccine ingredients. You can also ask your healthcare professional to help you decide which vaccine is best for you.

• Myocarditis or pericarditis: These conditions occur when the heart muscle or lining become inflamed. While rare, they have been reported among some people - primarily young men - receiving the Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax COVID vaccines. It's important to note that COVID itself can also cause myocarditis and pericarditis.

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