COVID-19 Vaccine

There are different types of vaccines.

• All COVID-19 vaccines prompt our bodies to recognize and help protect us from the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Currently, there are two types of COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States: mRNA, and protein subunit vaccines.

None of these vaccines can give you COVID-19.

• Vaccines do not use any live virus.
• Vaccines cannot cause infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 or other viruses.

COVID-19 vaccines do not affect or interact with our DNA.

• These vaccines do not enter the nucleus of the cell where our DNA (genetic material) is located, so they cannot change or influence our genes.

Learn more about how mRNA and protein subunit vaccines work, how they were developed and how they were tested/approved on the CDC 
COVID-19 Vaccine Basics webpage.

Public Health On Call Series - Vaccines 101 (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

For adults, COVID-19 vaccines:

• Reduce your risk for critical illness (admission to intensive care unit or death)
  • For adults ages 18 and older, the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of critical illness from COVID-19 by almost 70% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time. During the 10 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced critical illness risk by about 50%.

• Reduce your risk of being hospitalized
  • For adults ages 18 and older, the 2023­­–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization by about 50% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time. During the 10 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced hospitalization risk by about 30%.

• Reduce your risk of getting sick and needing to go to urgent care or the emergency department
  • For adults ages 18 and older, the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 urgent care and emergency department visits by about 50% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time, with little protection remaining at 4–6 months.

• Reduce your risk for Long COVID
  • Studies show that people who got vaccinated against COVID-19 and later get COVID-19 are less likely to have Long COVID, compared to people who are unvaccinated or not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

For people at higher risk from COVID-19:

• If you are 65 years or older
  • The 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of critical illness (admission to intensive care unit or death) among older adults by about 67% in the first 2 months after vaccination. During the 4–6 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced critical illness risk by about 40%.
  • The 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization among older adults by about 50% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection from vaccination wanes by 4–6 months after vaccination. Because adults ages 65 years and older have a higher risk for severe COVID-19, they are recommended to receive a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after their first dose.

• If you have a weakened immune system
  • The 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization for people with a weakened immune system by about 36% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection from vaccination wanes by 4–6 months after vaccination. Because people with a weakened immune system have a higher risk for severe COVID-19, they are recommended to receive a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after their first dose.

• If you are pregnant
  • Getting a COVID-19 vaccine while you are pregnant helps protect you. It also helps protect your baby from severe health outcomes due to COVID-19 before they become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination when they are 6 months old.
  • During October 2022–April 2024, 1,470 infants less than 6 months old were hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • Maternal vaccination during pregnancy reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization by around 54% among infants during the first 3 months of life.

For children:

The 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19-associated emergency room and urgent care visits by

• Around 65% in children ages 9 months to 4 years in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time.
• About 70% in children ages 5–17 years in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time. At 4–6 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced risk by about 50%.

Learn more about the Benefits of Getting Vaccinated from the CDC.

Before Your Vaccination Appointment

Get a COVID-19 vaccine with your routine medical procedures and screenings

You can combine most procedures, screenings, and vaccinations at the same appointment when you get your COVID-19 vaccination. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions.

Children, teens, and adults may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same time.

Preparing children and teens for vaccination

The experience of getting a COVID-19 vaccine will be very similar to that of getting other vaccines. Learn how you can support your child and talk to them about what to expect before they get a vaccine.

Requesting accommodations at vaccination sites

• When making an appointment or arriving for vaccination, you can let staff know you or your child might need some accommodations.
• People with disabilities can use the COVID-19 Vaccine Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) to get help with COVID-19 vaccinations

If you have allergies related to vaccines:

Talk to your doctor to learn if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• Have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• Are allergic to an ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Had an immediate allergic reaction (a reaction that started within 4 hours of getting vaccinated) to a COVID-19 vaccine, but the reaction was not considered severe by a medical professional.

After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine can vary from person to person. Some people experience a little discomfort and can continue to go about their day. Others have side effects that affect their ability to do daily activities. Side effects generally go away in a few days and tend to be mild and temporary, like those experienced after routine vaccinations. Even if you don’t experience any side effects, your body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Common side effects can include:

• Pain, swelling, and redness on the arm where the shot was given.
• Tiredness, headache, muscle pain
• Chills
• Nausea
• Fever

Relieve Common Side Effects

• It is not recommended to take pain relievers or medicines, such as ibuprofen, aspirin (only for people ages 18 years or older), or acetaminophen before vaccination to try to prevent side effects.

• Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter pain relievers after your vaccine.

• If possible, get some rest.

• To relieve pain or swelling on the arm where you got the shot:
  • Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area.
  • Use or keep moving your arm.

• To reduce discomfort from fever:
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Dress in comfortable clothes.

Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about giving your child a non-aspirin pain reliever and learn about other steps you can take at home to comfort your child after vaccination.

Call a doctor or healthcare provider about a side effect if:

1. Redness or tenderness where the shot was given gets worse after 24 hours

2. Side effects are worrying or do not seem to be going away after a few days

3. After leaving a vaccination provider site, if you think you or your child might be having a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care by calling 911.

Vaccine effectiveness is a measure of how well vaccination works under real-world conditions to protect people against health outcomes such as infection, symptomatic illness, hospitalization, and death. Learn more about What the CDC is doing, the guiding principles for monitoring vaccine effectiveness, and other resources on the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness webpage.

Finding and Paying for COVID-19 vaccines

Most people can get no-cost updated COVID-19 vaccines through their private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. You can check with your healthcare provider, local pharmacy/urgent care or vaccines.gov to find places offering COVID-19 vaccines in your area. If you have questions about what your insurance covers or if you might have to pay, get in touch with your insurance provider directly.

If you don't have health insurance and want to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, call us at 410-313-6284. We'll assist you in scheduling an appointment with the Health Department or another place that offers the vaccine.

If you are Homebound, call us at 410-313-6284 for assistance arranging for a vaccination.

For more information about getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine, visit the CDC Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.

Importance of staying up to date

• Getting the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine is important because:
  • Protection from the COVID-19 vaccine decreases with time.
  • Immunity after COVID-19 infection decreases with time.
  • COVID-19 vaccines are updated to give you the best protection from the currently circulating strains.
• Getting the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine is especially important if you:
  • Never received a COVID-19 vaccine
  • Are ages 65 years and older
  • Are at high risk for severe COVID-19
  • Are living in a long-term care facility
  • Are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future.
  • Want to lower your risk of getting Long COVID

Unsure if you are fully protected with your latest COVID vaccination? Find the most up-to-date recommendations from the CDC.

Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People

COVID-19 vaccine information for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

COVID-19 Vaccination for People Who Would Like to Have a Baby

Information on COVID-19 vaccines for people who would like to have a baby.

COVID-19 Vaccination for Women Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding

What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

COVID-19 Vaccination for Long-term Care Residents

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for long-term care residents.