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 Services 

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 

2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can 

have mild to severe symptoms.

 Possible symptoms include fever or chills, cough, 

shortness of breath or difficulty 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 6 months 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 12 years of age and older, updated 

COVID‐19 vaccines, manufactured by ModernaTX, 

Inc. or Pfizer, Inc., are approved by FDA.

 Everyone 12 years and older should get 1 dose 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 after your 

most recent dose to get the updated 2023–2024 

COVID‐19 vaccine.

 Certain people who have medical conditions or are 

taking medications that affect the immune system 

may get additional doses of COVID‐19 vaccine. Your 

health care provider can advise you.

Some people 12 years of age and older might get 

a different COVID‐19 vaccine called Novavax 

COVID‐19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023–2024 Formula) 

instead. This 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 after 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 (inflammation of the heart 

muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining 

outside of the heart)

 Has had multisystem inflammatory syndrome 

(called MIS-C in children and MIS-A in adult

 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 10/19/2023 ONLY

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 after COVID‐19 

vaccination.

 Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) 

or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside 

the heart) have been seen rarely after COVID‐19 

vaccination. This risk has been observed most 

commonly in males 12 through 39 years of age. 

The chance of this occurring is low.

People sometimes faint after 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 after the vaccinated 

person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe 

allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, 

difficulty 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, fluttering, or

pounding heart after COVID‐19 vaccination. These 

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 file this report, or 

you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS 

only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff members 

do not give medical advice.

6. Countermeasures Injury 

Compensation Program

The Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program 

(CICP) is a federal program that may help pay for 

costs of medical care and other specific 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/indust

biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regul

biologics.

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

-Call 1-800‐232‐4636 (1‐800‐CDC‐INFO) 

-Visit CDC’s COVID‐19 vaccines website at

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.