Last updated: 5/17/21

It’s completely understandable to have questions about the state of the pandemic, be confused by all the information, and be nervous about the vaccines. We had Native health experts answer some common questions to help make sense of the current situation.

How do I get a vaccine?

The CDC’s VaccineFinder website can help you find locations offering vaccines near you so that you can schedule an appointment. Most clinics and pharmacies which offer COVID-19 vaccines have a phased plan with the ages they currently service listed on their website. You can check these websites for updated information on eligibility and appointment availability.⁷

How much does a vaccine cost?

Nothing. It is free, even if you do not have insurance. However, if you do have insurance, you can bring it with you to your vaccination appointment and the clinic can charge your insurance. This will have no effect on your premium whatsoever.³

Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine significantly decreases your chances of developing severe illness or dying from COVID-19. Although there is growing evidence that COVID-19 vaccination may prevent you or your loved ones from getting COVID-19, it’s still important to practice the 3 W’s—wash your hands, wear a mask, watch your distance—so that you can protect yourself and others in the community! ³

I have already had COVID-19, do I need a vaccine?

Yes. It’s possible to become reinfected after you have recovered from a previous COVID-19 infection. It’s also important to keep practicing the 3 W’s—washing your hands, wearing a mask, and watching your distance—even if you’ve already had COVID-19. You can’t always know the vaccine status of those around you and keeping our loved ones and communities safe is important! ³

But if I already had COVID-19, don’t I have antibodies that protect me? Why do I need a vaccine?

At this time, it is unknown how long the antibodies your body produced in response to COVID-19 last. It is also unknown if antibodies for COVID-19 will give you lasting immunity.¹ However, not all antibodies stay around forever, which is why it’s important to give your body the help it needs to protect you—which protects your loved ones and community—from any future COVID-19 infection. Practicing the 3 W’s—washing your hands, wearing a mask, and watching your distance—as well as getting a COVID-19 vaccine are all things you can do to protect your communities!

What are the differences between the vaccines?

All currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective; the CDC does not recommend one vaccine over another. The available COVID-19 vaccines use mRNA and viral vectors, scientific technologies that have been studied for decades, to help our bodies develop immunity against severe future COVID-19 infections.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require two doses, while the Johnson and Johnson vaccine requires one dose. For the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, plan to return 21 days after receiving the first dose. For the Moderna vaccine, plan to return 28 days after receiving the first dose. The Pfizer-BioNTech is the only vaccine currently available for those 12 and older. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson are available for those 18 and older. For all three vaccines, you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your final shot. None of the vaccines make you sick with COVID-19 or change your DNA.^{4, 9, 10}

What are the side effects of the vaccines?

Side effects from COVID-19 vaccines are typical and signal that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Common side effects that have been reported after receiving COVID-19 vaccines include:

• pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site.
• headache.
• tiredness.
• muscle.
• chills or fever.
• nausea.²

These symptoms tend to resolve within a few days. Call your provider if any side effects do not go away. You can also report any side effects to:

• CDC at 1-800-822-7967.
• FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967.
• Pfizer Inc. at 1-800-438-1985 for side effects from the Pfizer vaccine.
• ModernaTX, Inc. at 1-866-MODERNA (1-866-663-3762) for side effects from the Moderna vaccine.
• Janssen Biotech, Inc. at 1-800-565-4008 for side effects from the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.^{9, 10}

While more serious side effects have been reported among adults, these are generally considered rare and it is currently not known whether they were caused by the vaccine. For youth ages 12–15 years of age who are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, clinical trials showed no notable serious adverse events patterns between those who received the vaccine and those who did not.⁹

If you have other questions or concerns, it’s always good to check with your provider. You can also visit:

• CDC’s website for information about COVID-19 vaccines and their possible side effects.
• FDA’s website for information about COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine regulations, and Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs).
• Pfizer’s website or call them at 1-877-829-2619.
• Moderna’s website.
• VAERS’ website. For the first line of box #18 of the report form, include “[Pfizer/Moderna/Janssen] COVID-19 Vaccine EUA.”

The vaccines were developed very fast. Are they safe?

Yes. All of the vaccines which are currently available in the U.S. underwent clinical trials where both CDC and FDA closely monitored the results. They have declared that each vaccine is safe and that the benefits of receiving the vaccines outweigh the risk of rare but severe side effects like blood clotting, which you may have heard about in the news.^{4, 7}

Do I need one shot or two?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are issued in a series of two shots. For Pfizer, you will return 21 days after your first shot for the second one. For Moderna, you will return 28 days later.

The only vaccine currently available in the U.S. as a single shot is the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.⁴

I’m afraid of getting my second vaccine shot. What hAPPENS IF I DON’T?

The first shot of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines does not give you full protection. You can only get full protection if you receive both shots. However, it’s okay to be a little nervous or afraid of getting a second vaccine shot, especially because of all the people who have talked about their side effects. Know that most cases of side effects resolve in a few days and that you are not alone.^{4, 5}

Will the Johnson and Johnson vaccine give me blood clots?

The chances of getting a blood clot as a result of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is very, very low. However, women younger than 50 years old especially should be aware of the rare but increased risk of blood clots.

Monitor yourself for possible symptoms of a blood clot with low platelets for three weeks after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Possible symptoms include:

• Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision.
• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain.
• Leg swelling.
• Persistent abdominal pain.
• Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin of the injection site.

If you develop one or more of these symptoms, you should seek medical care right away.⁴

Should I be concerned that the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was paused?

It’s okay to feel a little nervous about the Johnson and Johnson vaccine because of the pause in April 2021. Both CDC and FDA have recommended that the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine resume as all data shows that known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks. However, women younger than 50 years old especially should be aware of the rare but increased risk of blood clots, and that other COVID-19 vaccines where this risk hasn’t been observed are available.¹¹

Pausing the use of the vaccine allowed the CDC to communicate with healthcare providers about the potential risks of the vaccine and emphasize how important it is to report any severe events. It also gave healthcare providers the opportunity to make sure that they were prepared to treat people in the event of severe side effects such as blood clots.

Do the vaccines cause sterilization?

No. There is no link between vaccines and sterilization or infertility. The vaccine material never enters the part of the cell where DNA is stored, so it cannot alter your DNA or genetic material. In fact, doctors even recommend pregnant people to take certain vaccines before and during pregnancy to protect both themselves and their unborn children from viruses! You may have heard of doctors recommending people who plan to become pregnant to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at least one month before pregnancy, while CDC recommends that every pregnant person get the Tdap vaccine (which protects against three potentially life-threatening bacterial diseases: tetanus; diphtheria; and pertussis, or whooping cough) during every pregnancy.^{2, 7, 8}

What if I have a pre-existing health condition?

If you or someone you know has an underlying health condition it is still possible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as long as there has been no immediate or severe allergic reaction. You should always consult with your primary provider if you have any concerns or hesitations due to a pre-existing health condition.⁴

Do I still need to wear a mask after I get a vaccine?

If you are fully vaccinated (which means two weeks after receiving both shots of either Pfizer or Moderna, or receiving one shot of Johnson and Johnson), then you can start doing a lot of things that you previously had to stop doing before the pandemic. However, vaccinated people should continue wearing a mask after receiving their vaccine in certain settings because it’s hard to know the vaccination status of those around them. For more information on what you can and can’t do after being fully vaccinated, check out this CDC handy guide.^{3, 6}

If my family and I are vaccinated, is it safe for us to have a get-together?

According to the CDC, it is safe for two to three fully vaccinated households to gather indoors without masks. However, if one or more of the households are not vaccinated, it is best to be careful and practice the 3 W’s—wash your hands, wear a mask, and watch your distance—gathering outdoors if the get together must take place.^{3, 5}

Once I am vaccinated, is it safe to go to restaurants?

Each county in the U.S. is in a different phase of re-opening. It’s best to check your county’s phase of re-opening before deciding to eat out at a restaurant. Being fully vaccinated does allow you to start returning to normal daily activities, but since you can’t always know the vaccination status of those around you, it’s best to continue practicing the 3 W’s when possible—washing your hands, wearing a mask, and watching your distance.³

I have been hearing about new variants of COVID-19. What are they? Do vaccines protect against them?

To date, there is evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines in circulation may provide some protection against new variants. Scientists are monitoring how effective vaccines are against new variants and adjusting to create new medicines if needed. This FAQ will be updated with the latest findings of vaccine effectiveness on emerging COVID variants. We can do our part in slowing the development and spread of new variants by getting vaccinated and practicing the 3 W’s—washing your hands, wearing a mask, watching your distance.^{3, 6}

What is herd immunity?

Herd immunity means that enough people in the community are immune to a disease, making its spread unlikely. For example, if enough people are vaccinated against a disease, it is unlikely that those who are not vaccinated will catch the disease because no one around them has it. Herd immunity is a way of protecting an entire community, including those who are unable to receive a vaccine because of their age or underlying conditions. The CDC website refers to herd immunity as “population immunity,” and it is essentially the same thing.⁶