Getting COVID-19 can feel scary, but getting vaccinated helps protect you from serious illness and hospital visits. Just as concerning are the rumors and misinformation that keep us from getting the care we need. We're here to clear things up and share the facts you can trust.
 

Myth

"You can get COVID even if you're vaccinated, so it doesn't matter." 

Fact

The COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. work exceptionally well in protecting you against serious illness and death. But no vaccine in history has ever been 100% effective. On the other hand, unvaccinated people are at: 
5X greater risk of infection 
10x greater risk of hospitalization 
10x greater risk of death 
(CDC) 

Myth

"If I'm young and healthy, I'm at more risk getting the vaccine than getting COVID." 

Fact

Thankfully, due to the vaccines, effective COVID treatment options, and high levels of natural immunity from previous infections, a young person has a very low risk of dying from COVID-19. However, Long COVID—or the continuation of symptoms 3+ months after infection—can severely impact a young person's health and quality of life. People suffering from Long COVID report headaches, brain fog, fatigue, difficulty breathing, heart palpitations, and chest pain for months or years.

Staying current on vaccines is your best bet to reduce your chances of Long COVID. In 2024, the risk of getting Long COVID dropped to about 3.5% among vaccinated people. (Yale Medicine) 

Myth

"We don’t know the long-term side effects of the vaccines - it's not worth the risk."

Fact

Decades of vaccine history show us that even the most serious side effects of any vaccine typically occur within two months of getting vaccinated. This reassurance, plus data from 6+ billion people who have received COVID-19 vaccines, provides solid evidence that there is little chance that any new dangers will emerge from COVID-19 vaccines (CHOP, UAB).

Additionally, mRNA, also used to develop the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, has a very short life span and does not remain in your body for long. mRNA is broken down quickly by normal body processes into harmless pieces, and our body gets rid of it. It does not enter the cell's nucleus or alter your DNA.

Myth

"The vaccines are causing young, healthy people to die of heart attacks." 

Fact

A conspiracy theory recently emerged last year to give the impression that athletes are collapsing or dying after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The baseless theory points to stories of athletes who have died recently, but many of the individuals mentioned died of causes completely unrelated to vaccination, such as car accidents. And some of the individuals that the theory claims to have died from vaccinations are alive. 
 
Health officials continue to reiterate there is no link between vaccines and athlete deaths. Moreover, professional leagues have not reported any increase in such cases. For example, the NFL confirmed that there were no vaccine-related deaths or hospitalizations among the 3,000 players in the league, 95% of which have been vaccinated. 
 
Before sharing theories like this, consider whether the evidence is reliable, and talk to a medical provider when you have questions about the vaccines.   

Myth

"Vaccines could cause infertility."

Fact

Since the COVID-19 vaccines were first developed, several studies have been conducted to determine if they affect fertility. No evidence shows that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men. However, one recent study did show that contracting COVID-19 can temporarily impact male fertility (NIH).
Everyone ages six (6) months and older is recommended to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future. It’s safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine in any trimester.

Myth

"I'm pregnant; I'm not risking my baby's life getting vaccinated." 

Fact

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), the leading organizations representing obstetric care specialists, recommend vaccinating all pregnant individuals against COVID-19. 

Pregnant people with a symptomatic COVID infection have a twofold risk of admission into intensive care and a 70% increased risk of maternal death (Axios). They are also at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, stillbirth, and admission into the ICU of a COVID-infected newborn.  

Myth

"The COVID vaccines are linked to strokes." 

Fact

In November 2022, one of the CDC's vaccine surveillance systems detected a signal about a possible increased risk of stroke in older adults from Pfizer's bivalent booster. This prompted an investigation by the CDC and FDA, which analyzed several extensive studies, multiple vaccine safety databases, and other countries' regulators. None of them showed any findings that would signal an increased risk of stroke, and it was concluded that it was very unlikely that any link existed. 
 
Being concerned about a safety signal is entirely understandable. But this is an example of how the U.S.'s vaccine surveillance systems are (and should be) working. A signal is detected, an investigation is done, and the findings are shared to keep us safe.   

Myth

"I got my primary vaccine series; there's no need to get the new booster." 

Fact

Protection decreases with time, especially for a virus that mutates as quickly as COVID-19. Getting your yearly shot grants you the most protection against the most widely circulating variants. 

Myth

"We don't know the long-term side effects of the vaccines - it's not worth the risk." 

Fact

Decades of vaccine history show us that even the most severe side effects for any vaccine typically occur within two months of getting vaccinated, and the COVID-19 vaccine has been highly monitored. This reassurance (plus data from 6+ billion people who have received COVID-19 vaccines) provides solid evidence that there is little chance that any new dangers will emerge from COVID-19 vaccines (CHOP, UAB). 
 
mRNA, also used to develop the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, has a very short life span and does not remain in your body for long. Normal body processes break down mRNA quickly into harmless pieces, and our body gets rid of it. Therefore, it does not enter the cell's nucleus or alter your DNA. 

If you’re still uneasy about mRNA vaccines, you’re in luck! The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine was recently authorized in the U.S. and is developed using the more traditional technology to make vaccines. It’s the only protein-based COVID-19 vaccine option, targeting the latest circulating COVID-19 sub-variants.

Myth

"COVID isn't a concern anymore." 

Fact

Thankfully, in 2024, the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 has significantly reduced. This is largely due to the success of the vaccines.

It's estimated that the COVID-19 vaccines prevented 3.2 million deaths in America over the first two years of the Biden-Harris administration. (The Commonwealth Foundation).

Without vaccines, we'd be in a much different reality today. 

Myth

"The COVID-19 vaccine will change my DNA." 

Fact

The ingredients in these vaccines do not enter the part of your body's cells where DNA is stored. This means it cannot interact with or affect your DNA. Instead, these vaccines work with your body's natural defenses to safely develop immunity to disease. 

Myth

"The vaccines seem rushed. They came out too fast, so we can't trust their safety." 

Fact

Due to the urgency of the pandemic, all resources needed to develop the vaccines were made available, including money, expertise, and cooperation. In addition, scientists have worked for decades to develop vaccines against other coronaviruses, and this knowledge helped speed up the initial development of the current COVID-19 vaccines. 
 
Typically, when developing new vaccines, the phases of clinical trials are performed one at a time, but during the development of COVID-19 vaccines, these phases overlap to shorten the process. Therefore, no trial phases were skipped. 

The COVID-19 vaccines were carefully tested on thousands of people during clinical trials and proven safe and highly effective. As of August 2024, more than 13.53 billion doses had been safely administered worldwide since the vaccines started being administered to the public.  

Myth

"I don't need the vaccine. I already had COVID, so the antibodies I got from being sick are enough." 

Fact

The strength and durability of your natural immunity from a previous COVID-19 infection depend on your age, health, the severity of the infection, and the duration of time since infection. Therefore, you could have high or low immunity levels without a reliable way of knowing your level of protection. 

Boosting your immunity with the vaccine will likely give you long-lasting protection against future variants.  

Myth

"I don't know what's in the vaccine. The ingredients might be dangerous to my body." 

Fact

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain typical vaccine ingredients, including single-strand molecules, fats, salts, and a small amount of sugar. In addition, the vaccines were not developed using fetal tissue, and they do not contain dangerous materials, such as implants, microchips, or tracking devices. 

Additionally, mRNA, also used to develop the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, has a very short life span. Normal body processes break down mRNA quickly into harmless pieces, and our body gets rid of it. It does not enter the cell's nucleus or alter DNA.  

Myth

"I can't afford to get vaccinated." 

Fact

COVID-19 vaccines are free for most Americans through their insurance plans, including private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA plans. Uninsured children can get free vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. And uninsured adults can typically find free vaccines through their local health department.