Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 based on what the CDC and Science experts are stating.
We will continue to add to/update this list as we all learn more about this COVID-19 infection and vaccines.
Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others if I have received 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine?
- Not enough information is currently available to say if or when CDC will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
- Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions before making that decision. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision. CDC also does not know yet whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself.
If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?
- Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
How long is the protection if I already had COVID-19 infection?
- Experts do not yet know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called “natural immunity,” varies from person to person. It is rare for someone who has had COVID-19 to get infected again. It also is uncommon for people who do get COVID-19 again to get it within 90 days of when they recovered from their first infection.
If I receive the vaccine how long is the protection?
- CDC and science experts do not know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts and will not know until we have more data on how well the vaccines work.
Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?
- NO! None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine CANNOT make you sick with COVID-19.
After getting a COVID-19 vaccine will I test positive for COVID-19 viral test?
- Neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.
- If your body develops an immune response—the goal of vaccination—there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results. Vaccines will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and bring this pandemic to an end.
Can I develop COVID-19 after getting a vaccine?
- It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after receiving the vaccination. THAT means it is possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID 19 just BEFORE or JUST AFTER vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection (Immunity).
Bottom line – why should I get vaccinated?
- Vaccines will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and bring this pandemic to an end.
Didn’t find an answer to your question? Please visit the CDC for more information.
