In the News

• FDA Recommends Booster for Certain Immunocompromised Individuals But Not the General Population
• Booster Shots (UPDATE)
• FDA Approves Pfizer-BioNTech

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? (UPDATED*)

The Fundamentals

• What vaccines are currently available? (UPDATED*)
• How many doses do I need of the vaccines? (UPDATED*)
• What about immunity over time – will boosters or yearly vaccination be needed? (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!

• What are the statistics on getting COVID-19 if you get the vaccine (breakthrough infections)? (UPDATED*)
• 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)?

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.