VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT
Many vaccine information statements are
available in Spanish and other languages.
See www.immunize.org/vis
Hojas de información sobre vacunas están
disponibles en español y en muchos otros
idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis
U.S. Department of
Health and Human Service
s
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
COVID-19 Vaccine:
What You Need to Know
1. Why get vaccinated?
COVID‑19 vaccine can prevent COVID‑19 disease.
Vaccination can help reduce the severity of COVID‑19
disease if you get sick.
COVID‑19 is caused by a coronavirus called
SARS‑CoV‑2 that spreads easily from person to
person. COVID‑19 can cause mild to moderate illness
lasting only a few days, or severe illness requiring
hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help
with breathing. COVID‑19 can result in death.
If an infected person has symptoms, they may appear
2to 14days aer exposure to the virus. Anyone can
have mild to severe symptoms.
Possible symptoms include fever or chills, cough,
shortness of breath or diculty breathing, fatigue
(tiredness), muscle or body aches, headache, new loss
of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny
nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
More serious symptoms can include trouble
breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest,
new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or
pale, gray, or blue‑colored skin, lips, or nail beds,
depending on skin tone.
Older adults and people with certain underlying
medical conditions (like heart or lung disease or
diabetes) are more likely to get very sick from
COVID‑19.
2. COVID‑19 vaccine
Updated (2023–2024 Formula) COVID‑19 vaccine is
recommended for everyone 6months of age and older.
COVID‑19 vaccines for infants and children 6 months
through 11 years of age are available under Emergency
Use Authorization from the U. S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Please refer to the Fact Sheets
for Recipients and Caregivers for more information.
For people 12years of age and older, updated
COVID‑19 vaccines, manufactured by ModernaTX,
Inc. or Pzer, Inc., are approved by FDA.
Everyone 12years and older should get 1dose of
an FDA‑approved, updated 2023–2024 COVID‑19
vaccine. If you have received a COVID‑19 vaccine
recently, you should wait at least 8 weeks aer your
most recent dose to get the updated 2023–2024
COVID‑19 vaccine.
Certain people who have medical conditions or are
taking medications that aect the immune system
may get additional doses of COVID‑19 vaccine. Your
health care provider can advise you.
Some people 12years of age and older might get
a dierent COVID‑19 vaccine called Novavax
COVID‑19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023–2024 Formula)
instead. is vaccine is available under Emergency Use
Authorization from FDA. Please refer to the Fact Sheet
for Recipients and Caregivers for more information.
3. Talk with your health
care provider
Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting
the vaccine:
Has had an allergic reaction aer a previous
dose of COVID‑19 vaccine or an ingredient in
the COVID‑19 vaccine, or has any severe, life‑
threatening allergies
Has had myocarditis (inammation of the heart
muscle) or pericarditis (inammation of the lining
outside of the heart)
Has had multisystem inammatory syndrome
(called MIS‑C in children and MIS‑A in adults)
Has a weakened immune system
In some cases, your health care provider may decide to
postpone COVID‑19 vaccination until a future visit.
OFFICE
USE
ONLY10/19/2023
Vaccine Information Statement
COVID-19 Vaccine
People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be
vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely
ill should usually wait until they recover. People
with current COVID‑19 infection should wait to get
vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness
and discontinued isolation.
Pregnant people with COVID‑19 are at increased
risk for severe illness. COVID‑19 vaccination
is recommended for people who are pregnant,
breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant now, or who
might become pregnant in the future.
COVID‑19 vaccine may be given at the same time as
other vaccines.
4. Risks of a vaccine reaction
Pain, swelling, or redness where the shot is
given, fever, tiredness (fatigue), headache, chills,
muscle pain, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and
swollen lymph nodes can happen aer COVID‑19
vaccination.
Myocarditis (inammation of the heart muscle)
or pericarditis (inammation of the lining outside
the heart) have been seen rarely aer COVID‑19
vaccination. is risk has been observed most
commonly in males 12 through 39 years of age.
e chance of this occurring is low.
People sometimes faint aer medical procedures,
including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel
dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.
As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance
of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other
serious injury, or death.
5. What if there is a
serious problem?
An allergic reaction could occur aer the vaccinated
person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe
allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat,
diculty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or
weakness), call 9‑1‑1 and get the person to the nearest
hospital.
Seek medical attention right away if the vaccinated
person experiences chest pain, shortness of breath,
or feelings of having a fast‑beating, uttering, or
pounding heart aer COVID‑19 vaccination. ese
could be symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis.
For other signs that concern you, call your health
care provider.
Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine
Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your
health care provider will usually le this report, or
you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at
www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1‑800‑822‑7967. VAERS is
only for reporting reactions, and VAERS sta members
do not give medical advice.
6. Countermeasures Injury
Compensation Program
e Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program
(CICP) is a federal program that may help pay for
costs of medical care and other specic expenses of
certain people who have been seriously injured by
certain medicines or vaccines, including this vaccine.
Generally, a claim must be submitted to the CICP
within one (1) year from the date of receiving the
vaccine. To learn more about this program, visit
the program’s website at www.hrsa.gov/cicp, or call
1‑855‑266‑2427.
7. How can I learn more?
Ask your health care provider.
Call your local or state health department.
Visit the website of the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for COVID‑19 Fact Sheets,
package inserts, and additional information at
www.fda.gov/vaccines‑blood‑biologics/industry‑
biologics/coronavirus‑covid‑19‑cber‑regulated‑
biologics.
Contact the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC):
‑ Call 1‑800‑232‑4636 (1‑800‑CDC‑INFO) or
‑ Visit CDC’s COVID‑19 vaccines website at
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
