In the News
Good Questions that Don’t Always Get Good Answers
- Are the vaccines made with fetal cells?
- What about religious concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine?
- What about the long-term effects of the vaccine? Does the vaccine help with COVID-19 long haulers?
- Will the vaccines work against new variants?
- Do mRNA vaccines cause infertility?
The Fundamentals
- What vaccines are currently available?
- How many doses do I need of the vaccines? What about booster shots? (*UPDATED)
- Are the mRNA vaccines interchangeable (i.e., can the doses come from different brands)?
- Isn’t it better to get natural immunity from the disease?
- If I receive the vaccine do I still need to mask or social distance?
Trials and Studies and Data – Oh My!
- Didn’t these vaccines come out too quickly?
- What did the vaccines show efficacy for? What does efficacy mean for these clinical trials?
- What were the demographics of vaccine trial participants? What races/ethnicities were included?
- What new data has emerged since the clinical trials?
- What are the statistics on getting COVID-19 if you get the vaccine (breakthrough infections)? (*UPDATED)
What to Expect When You Are Expecting (a Vaccine)
- Are the vaccines safe?
- What are the ingredients in the available vaccines?
- What side effects are expected with the vaccines?
- To help with side effects, can I take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or antihistamines either before or after receiving the vaccine?
- Where should we report side effects/adverse events to the vaccines?
- What are the recommendations around allergic reactions/analphylaxis?
- What about reports of myocarditis/pericarditis following vaccination in adolescents and young adults?
Should I Get a Vaccine If…
- Can pregnant or breastfeeding people receive the vaccines?
- Can kids receive the vaccines?
- How should parental consent for individuals younger than 18 years receiving Pfizer vaccine be addressed and how should vaccine providers document it?
- Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as another vaccine?
- What are the new recommendations around the vaccine and screening mammograms?
- I am young and healthy and at low risk for COVID-19. Why should I get the vaccine?
- I had COVID-19, is it still recommended I receive the vaccine? Would I still need two doses?
- Should I get an antibody test to see if I have immunity AFTER getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
*Questions are reviewed and updated as needed. The asterisk (*) denotes questions with substantive updates.
This is a detailed list of questions curated to give providers updated information and help with conversations with patients. Key authors are Jill Amsberry, DO of CentraCare, the M Health Fairview team, and Jodie Dvorkin, MD, MPH of ICSI. This FAQ stems from a COVID-19 Vaccination Working Group ICSI that began in the fall of 2020, comprised of healthcare leaders across Minnesota for sharing practices related to COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Working Group includes healthcare delivery systems, health plans, county and state agencies, and others.