COVID-19 VACCINE

Yes. Vaccine safety and effectiveness is based on a standard and highly rigorous clinical trial assessment involving tens of thousands of volunteers. Although the current vaccines were developed more quickly than usual, they still went through the same process.

Yes. Because of the severe health risks of COVID-19 and the fact that you can get COVID-19 again, you should be vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19.

Yes. The COVID-19 vaccination is very important for people with underlying health problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and obesity. People with these conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

While the vaccines were not extensively studied in people with weakened immune systems, there is no reason to expect any safety concerns.

HIV and other conditions associated with a weakened immune system have been associated with higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Therefore, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which provides health care expertise on vaccines in the U.S., recommends vaccinating people with weakened immune systems.

Pregnant patients are more likely to have serious illness from COVID-19 and are at risk of developing pregnancy complications as a result. The vaccine is very effective in reducing the risk of infection. 

On September 30, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an urgent health advisory to increase COVID-19 vaccination among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future to prevent serious illness, deaths, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The CDC health advisory strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination for both pregnant persons and their fetus or infant outweigh known or potential risks. Additionally, the advisory calls on health departments and clinicians to educate pregnant people on the benefits of vaccination and the safety of recommended vaccines.

Additionally, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding be offered the vaccine to prevent serious illness.

At this time, our Radiology Department recommends that screening studies be done either prior to a patient receiving the COVID-19 vaccine or 4 to 6 weeks after. Lymph node swelling is a common side effect of the vaccine and can complicate the reading of a scan.

No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States use the live virus, meaning that you can’t get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccine teaches your immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus in the event you become exposed.

It is important to know that it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. It is therefore possible to be infected just before or just after vaccination.

Most people experience some minor side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common side effects that have been reported include a sore arm at the injection site, fatigue, headache, chills and possibly a fever. These symptoms should go away on their own in a day or two.

No. While you may have some antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection lasts – and you don’t want to risk getting the virus again. COVID-19 can cause serious illness, debilitating symptoms that persist for months and can result in death. Vaccination is your best protection, and it is safe.