Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine

• Yes. Over 350 million vaccine doses have been safely administered in the US with only rare vaccine-related health effects. The benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the risks.

The Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Moderna vaccines have been linked to an increased risk of myocarditis (heart inflammation) in teens and young adults, especially in males. Myocarditis is very rare—about 13 cases per million after dose 2 in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (including data from Marshfield Clinic). Most myocarditis cases have been mild.

The Janssen vaccine has been linked to two rare but serious problems: an increased risk of serious blood clots with low platelets, and a rare neurologic disease called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). The overall risk of blood clots is about 3 cases per million doses of Janssen vaccine in adults, with a higher risk in women. For GBS, the overall risk is about 8 cases per million doses.

The CDC has assessed the risks and benefits of each vaccine, concluding that the benefits (preventing COVID-19 hospitalization and death) are substantial and greatly outweigh the low risk of a vaccine-related complication. The COVID-19 vaccines also are highly effective against the delta variant that is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated people. Everyone who receives a COVID-19 vaccine should be aware of the risks and benefits to make an informed choice.

Our nationally-recognized infectious disease providers and epidemiologists agree with other experts that the vaccines:

• Have benefits (preventing COVID-19 hospitalization and death) that are substantial and greatly outweigh the low risk of a vaccine-related complication.

• Are effective at preventing COVID-19.

• The mRNA vaccines are highly effective for preventing serious illness caused by the delta variant.

• As of Aug. 2, 2021, over 99.99% of fully vaccinated people have not had a breakthrough case of COVID-19 resulting in hospitalization or death.

• Basic scientific research over two decades led to breakthroughs and proof that mRNA and viral vector vaccines can generate immunity. Clinical trials were overlapped to shorten the timeline, cutting out much of the red tape in the process. Production of the vaccine also occurred before clinical trials were completed. The federal government provided financial support to speed up vaccine development. The FDA was then able to give the vaccine emergency use authorization based on strong evidence that vaccine benefits outweigh risks.

• CDC recommends that people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) at least 28 days after the completion of the initial mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series.

• CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time. The Health System continues to monitor any new recommendations and will move quickly to provide further communication as updates to COVID-19 vaccines are made.

• There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility. Researchers studied fertility in animals for each of the COVID-19 vaccines. The research found that the COVID-19 vaccines did not affect fertility in the animals. The research also found that the COVID-19 vaccines did not cause any issues with the development of the babies while in the womb. A letter by two anti-vaccination bloggers fueled the rumors about infertility.

• Participants in the vaccine trials were asked to avoid getting pregnant. Despite this, there were at least 23 pregnancies in women who received the Pfizer vaccine.

• On Aug. 23, 2021, FDA approved Comirnaty (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA), which was previously known as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

• No. Natural infection has already caused more than 600,000 deaths, and the number of deaths and hospitalizations is increasing among unvaccinated people due to the delta variant. You should receive the vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. People who complete the COVID-19 vaccine series have a high level of protection against infection and serious illness, including serious illness caused by the delta variant. Vaccination after natural infection generates a strong boost in antibody levels, and a CDC study found that people who are vaccinated after COVID-19 have a reduced risk of reinfection compared to people who were previously infected and unvaccinated.

• Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required, including local business, school and workplace guidance. CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public in substantial or high transmission areas. Full vaccinated individuals also can refrain from quarantine following exposure, but should be tested 3-5 days following exposure. More details found on CDC website.

• Comirnaty (Pfizer) ingredients include: mRNA, lipids, cholesterol, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sucrose.

• Moderna ingredients include: mRNA, lipids (including polyethylene glycol), cholesterol, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sucrose.

• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) ingredients include recombinant, replication-incompetent adenovirus type 26 expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, citric acid monohydrate, trisodium citrate dihydrate, ethanol, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBCD), polysorbate-80 and sodium chloride.

• The Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine is given in 2 doses, 3 weeks apart. 3rd dose recommended 28 days later for immunocompromised.

• The Moderna vaccine is given in 2 doses, 4 weeks apart. 3rd dose recommended 28 days later for immunocompromised.

• The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine is a single dose vaccine.