COVID-19 vaccines prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill or dying due to COVID-19. They will also prevent you from spreading the COVID-19 virus to others. The vaccine adds to the number of people in the community who are protected from getting COVID-19, making it harder for the disease to spread and contributing to herd immunity. Finally, the vaccine prevents the COVID-19 virus from spreading and replicating, which allows it to mutate and possibly become more resistant to vaccines.
Vaccine Effectiveness
The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is recommended for people aged 18 years and older.
The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine was 66.3% effective in clinical trials (efficacy) at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who had no evidence of prior infection. People had the most protection 2 weeks after getting vaccinated.
Name: JNJ-78436735
Manufacturer: Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Type of Vaccine: Viral Vector
Number of Shots: 1 shot
Kingwood Emergency now offers J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. Please click the button below to contact us and learn more about getting vaccinated at our facility.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is recommended for people aged 12 years and older.
Based on evidence from clinical trials in people aged 16 years and older, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people without evidence of the previous infection.
Name: BNT162b2
Manufacturer: Pfizer, Inc., and BioNTech
Type of Vaccine: mRNA
Number of Shots: 2 shots, 21 days apart
The Moderna vaccine is recommended for people aged 18 years and older.
Based on evidence from clinical trials, in people aged 18 years and older, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection in people who received two doses and had no evidence of being previously infected.
Name: mRNA-1273
Manufacturer: ModernaTX, Inc.
Type of Vaccine: mRNA
Number of Shots: 2 shots, 28 days apart
All Vaccine Information Retrieved from the CDC Vaccination Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe?
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.
Can you get COVID once you are fully vaccinated?
The risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated people cannot be completely eliminated where community transmission of the virus is widespread. Vaccinated people could potentially still become infected and spread the virus to others.
What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in your body?
The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. Of note, more people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose, so it is important for vaccination providers and recipients to expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose.
Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Everyone 12 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic.
Where can I get the most up to date local information on COVID-19?
Visit the State of Texas COVID-19 website: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
Click here for the latest information from the CDC on COVID-19 vaccines: More CDC Information
Should Pregnant Women Get the Vaccine?
Pregnant women have no precedent with the COVID-19 vaccine making many uneasy about receiving the vaccine. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, says that about 10,000 pregnant women in the U.S. have been vaccinated since the Food and Drug Administration authorized two vaccines, and so far, there have been “no red flags.” (Rodriguez 2021)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say the decision to be vaccinated is up to the mother in consultation with her health care provider.
I Have Had COVID-19, Should I Still Get a Vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people go ahead and get the vaccine when it’s their turn, even if they’ve already had COVID-19.
If you’ve had COVID-19, you likely developed some amount of natural immunity to it once you recover. But we don’t yet have a good understanding of how long that natural immunity might last. We think the vaccine can boost your protection without causing any harm. (Chaisson 2021)
How Will I Feel After Getting the Vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building immunities. These aftereffects should be minor, and they should go away in a few days. Here are some common side effects:
On the arm where you got the shot:
- Pain
- Swelling
Throughout the rest of your body:
- Fever
- Chills
- Tiredness
- Headache
(CDC 2021)
Links and Citations
“Different COVID-19 Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Jan. 2021, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html.
“When Vaccine Is Limited, Who Should Get Vaccinated First?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Jan. 2021, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations.html.
Rodriguez, Adrianna. “Should Pregnant Women Get the COVID-19 Vaccine? Dr. Anthony Fauci Sees ‘No Red Flags’ in Safety Data.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 1 Feb. 2021, www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/02/01/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-dr-fauci-says-no-red-flags-so-far/4335747001/.
Chaisson, MD, Neal. “Should I Get the Vaccine If I’ve Already Had COVID-19 – and Would My Side Effects Be Worse?” Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, 28 Jan. 2021, health.clevelandclinic.org/should-i-get-the-vaccine-if-ive-already-had-covid-19-and-would-my-side-effects-be-worse/.
“What to Expect after Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html.
Tien, Caroline. “Will You Need to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Every Year?” Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2021, www.verywellhealth.com/length-of-covid-19-vaccine-immunity-5094857.
Stay Informed
It’s up to individuals and families to educate as much as possible before making choices when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine and personal health.
We all seek good information and look for answers to questions that affect our family’s well-being. In a situation such as a global pandemic, it’s hard to trust the process. We must constantly fact check. The links provided here are websites dedicated to keeping the public informed on facts around the virus and the vaccines.
When in doubt about how medicine affects you and your family, you must be your family’s own patient advocate and stay informed. We are here to help you keep up with and disseminate the available resources and information.