The benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
- COVID-19 vaccines were developed using science that has been around for decades.
- COVID-19 vaccines are not experimental. They went through all the required stages of clinical trials. Extensive testing and monitoring has shown that these vaccines are safe and effective.
COVID-19 vaccines are effective.
- The vaccines can keep you from getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.
- COVID-19 vaccines can also help keep you from getting seriously ill, even if you do get COVID-19.
- Getting vaccinated yourself may protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Once fully vaccinated, you can do more.
- After you are fully vaccinated, you can resume many activities you did before the pandemic without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection.
- Get vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19.
People are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after a single-dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. You should keep using all the tools available to protect yourself and others until you are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 is still a threat to people who are unvaccinated.
Some people who get COVID-19 can become severely ill, which can result in hospitalization, and some people have ongoing health problems several weeks or longer after getting infected. Even people who do not have symptoms when infected can have these ongoing health problems.
To find a location near you to get a COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccines.gov/search/ or call Mercyhealth at (608) 756-6100.