Right now in the United States of America, there are three different vaccines authorized by the FDA to be given: one by Johnson & Johnson, one by Pfizer-BioNTech, and one by Moderna. Before you seek out any COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider for advice.
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one-shot vaccine approved for adults 18 years of age and older. 14 days after vaccination, you are considered fully vaccinated. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is 66% effective at protecting people from getting COVID-19. Those who did contract COVID-19 after the J&J vaccine had mild cases that did not require hospitilization. After vaccination, you might feel some flu-like symptoms (fever, body aches, headache), but these typically resolve within 24-48 hours. Increasing hydration, resting, and taking OTC pain relief can help mediate symptoms. A few women (7 per 1 million women) have experienced a very rare blood clotting issue within 3 weeks of receiving the vaccine.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is a two-shot series available to anyone over the age of 12. The second vaccine in the series is given 21 days after the first. 14 days after the vaccine is given, you are considered fully vaccinated. The Pfizer vaccine was 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and those who did contract COVID-19 post-vaccination did not require hospitalization. The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine which teaches the body how to create proteins to create an immune response. While this is a new type of vaccine, this technology has been in development for a long time. You may experience some flu-like symptoms after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, but these can be easily managed and do not typically impact daily life.
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
The Moderna vaccine is a two-shot series available to anyone 18 years of age or older. The second vaccine in the series is given 28 days after the first vaccine. Two weeks after the second vaccine is given, you are considered vaccinated. The Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection. Those who did contract COVID-19 post-vaccination did not require hospitalization. Like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine. While this technology is new, it is considered safe and effective. You may experience flu-like symptoms after your second shot. These symptoms can be managed with rest, hydration, and OTC pain relievers. These side effects mean your body is building immune protection and should go away in a few days.