Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. Over 334 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the United States from December 14, 2020, through July 12, 2021.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA).
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines, and these vaccines will undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
Health professionals around the world are urging people to get their COVID-19 vaccine. You can be part of the solution.
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines
Is the vaccine safe?
Yes. Over 170 million people in the United States are fully vaccinated, including 1.5 million Utahns. Clinical trials were performed on tens of thousands of people, and the vaccine has been authorized by the Emergency Use Act from the FDA.
How was it developed so quickly?
In a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the US government brings together government agencies, international agencies, academia, nonprofit corporations and pharmaceutical companies to collectively study the best way to respond to the threat. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this group has focused only on developing the best vaccine possible. Many people and organizations have worked together to make the current vaccines as fast and as safely as possible.
Can I catch COVID-19 from the vaccine?
No. None of the available vaccines in the US contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means the vaccine cannot give you 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 just before or just after vaccination and get sick.
Will the vaccine alter my DNA?
No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept.
Will the vaccine make me infertile?
No. There has been misinformation spread on the internet, saying that the protein in the vaccine attacks a protein in the placenta. This is not true. The small number of amino acids in the two proteins would not cause that effect. COVID-19 vaccines haven’t been tested in pregnant women, but pregnant women do get vaccinated for other illnesses during pregnancy. Pregnant women have an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and there is a chance you could give COVID-19 to your baby after he or she is born. Talk to your doctor to see if you should get vaccinated.
Do the vaccines have microchips?
No. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips. Vaccines are developed to fight against disease and are not administered to track your movement. Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first. The list of ingredients in each vaccine can be found here.
Can I get the vaccine if I have an underlying health condition?
Yes. People with underlying medical conditions can still receive the vaccine as long as they have not had an allergic reaction to the vaccine or any of the ingredients. Vaccination is especially important for people with underlying conditions, as they are more at risk of getting very sick and dying from the virus. This includes health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or obesity. People with these conditions are more likely to get sick from COVID-19.
Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Here at Fourth Street Clinic, patients can receive the Johnson & Johnson or the Moderna vaccine.
Still unsure of where to go? Text your zip code to 438829
Available COVID-19 Vaccines:
Click here to learn more about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Authorized for anyone 12 years of age or older.
- Number of shots: 2 shots, 21 days apart
- How it’s given: Shot in the muscle of the upper arm
For a full list of ingredients, side effects, and who should get the vaccine, see the fact sheet.
Pfizer vaccine fact sheet
(For other languages, click here)
- Authorized for anyone 18 years of age or older.
- Number of shots: 2 shots, 28 days apart
- How it’s given: Shot in the muscle of the upper arm
For a full list of ingredients, side effects, and who should get the vaccine, see the fact sheet.
Moderna vaccine fact sheet
(For other languages, click here)
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
- Authorized for anyone 18 years of age or older.
- Number of shots: 1 shot
- How it’s given: Shot in the muscle of the upper arm
For a full list of ingredients, side effects, and who should get the vaccine, see the fact sheet.
Johnson & Johnson vaccine fact sheet
(For other languages, click here)
FAQs on the CDC and FDA decision to “pause” administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines