Yes, all three vaccines are very effective. While the vaccines made by the three companies cannot be compared directly because of differences in the way they were developed and studied, they all offer excellent protection and are all effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalizations and death.

Yes, all of the vaccines are safe.

• All the standard safety rules were followed for making the vaccines.
• All of the vaccines being used in Massachusetts, including the Johnson & Johnson (J&J), have been tested with many people (across different age groups, countries of origin, races and ethnicities).
  • For detailed information about Pfizer vaccine studies, visit: GRADE: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
  • For detailed information about Moderna vaccine studies, visit: GRADE: Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
  • For detailed information about Johnson & Johnson vaccine studies, visit Johnson & Johnson

On April 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) paused use of the J&J vaccine after receiving reports of a very small number of women who developed a rare and severe type of blood clot after receiving the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.

During the pause, medical and scientific teams at the FDA and CDC examined available data to assess the risk of the rare blood clotting disorder associated with the J&J vaccine. It also gave federal health agencies time to educate the medical community about how to recognize and appropriately treat this rare disorder, known as thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

On April 23, the CDC accepted the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because they had confidence that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.

The decision was also based on the scientists’ conclusion that the benefits of the vaccine for the overall population far outweigh the rare risk of TTS, particularly now that the blood clotting disorder and treatment protocols are better understood.

As of April 23, federal health agencies had confirmed 15 cases of TTS out of nearly 8 million J&J vaccines administered. All cases occurred in women and most were between the ages of 18-49, with a median age of 37.

The panel also recommended that a warning label be added to the vaccine packaging noting the very rare blood clotting disorder risk.

No. For most people—including women under the age of 50—getting the first available COVID vaccine is the best thing you can do to safeguard your health. Your odds of contracting a possibly life-threatening case of COVID-19 are much higher than your odds of serious side effects from the vaccine.

However women under age 50 should be counseled about the rare risk of the blood clot disorder (TTS) after getting the J&J vaccine and should be told about the availability of other FDA-authorized vaccines. If, after being appropriately informed, a woman in the age group 18--50 years decides she would like the J & J vaccine, it is a very reasonable and safe choice.

People with a history of or personal risk for blood clots (including taking oral contraceptive pills) should speak with their health care provider about other COVID-19 vaccine options.

For more information on the safety and effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the CDC website.

If you received the J&J shot, and have not developed any of the symptoms associated with the blood clotting disorder within three weeks, the risk of an adverse reaction is very unlikely. The symptoms of concern include:

• Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Leg swelling
• Persistent abdominal pain
• Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site

People should seek medical care right away if they develop one or more of these symptoms.

This is how the vaccines were made so quickly:

• Scientists have been studying coronaviruses for many years, so they knew a lot about them.
• The type of vaccines used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (called mRNA vaccines) have been used in cancer vaccine studies for many years. This gave scientists a head start.
• The type of vaccine used in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (called viral vector vaccines) has been used since the 1970s. Some vaccines recently used for Ebola outbreaks have used viral vector technology, and a number of studies have focused on viral vector vaccines against such infectious diseases as Zika, flu, and HIV.
• Many scientists all over the world worked on vaccine development together.
• Companies usually wait until all of the studies are complete, and then they start making vaccines. With the COVID-19 vaccine, they started making the vaccines much sooner. As soon as the vaccines were found to be safe, the companies were able to complete the safety approval process and ship them to the states.

Vaccine safety trials for children under age 16 are happening now but are not yet done. Children under age 16 will be able to get vaccinated once vaccines are approved for them.

All Cambridge residents age16 and older are now eligible to be vaccinated. It is anticipated that all adults will be able to be vaccinated by early summer.

• People in Massachusetts can currently get vaccinated at large public vaccine clinics, pharmacies, and regional vaccine sites.
• To pre-register for a vaccine at a state site, visit www.vaccinesignup.mass.gov.
• You can go to vaxfinder.mass.gov to find an appointment near you.
• For a pharmacy appointment, visit www.cvs.com or www.walgreens.com.
• For an appointment at a supermarket pharmacy, visit www.Stopandshop.com or www.StarMarket.com
• If you cannot use a computer to sign up for a vaccine appointment, you can call the state’s hotline at 2-1-1 for help signing up over the phone.
• Some hospitals and health care organizations will also have vaccines and will let patients know when they can make an appointment to get vaccinated.

If you have had an immediate allergic reaction - even if it was not severe - to a vaccine or injectable medication, ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have allergies not related to vaccines or injectable medications - such as food, pet, venom, environmental or latex allergies - the CDC recommends that you get vaccinated. People with a history of allergies to oral medications may also get vaccinated.

All of the COVID-19 vaccines currently available, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnsen, can cause mild side effects after the first or second dose, including:

• Pain, redness or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Chills
• Joint pain

These reactions mean the vaccine is working to help teach your body how to fight COVID-19 if you are exposed. Most side effects happen within the first three days after you get the vaccine and last only one to two days.

The COVID-19 vaccine can cause an allergic reaction right after getting the vaccine, but very rarely. That’s why people are watched for 15 or 30 minutes after they receive the vaccine to make sure that they are not allergic.

The vaccines are being offered for free by the federal government. Doctors and insurance companies are not allowed to ask patients to pay for the vaccine.

• We know that the vaccine protects you from getting sick from COVID-19. But we don’t know yet if you can still spread the virus to others even after being vaccinated.
• Even after you are fully vaccinated, you still need to wear a mask in certain situations and follow state and local mask requirements. You should continue to wash your hands often and keep at least 6 feet away from others.
• On April 27, 2021, Governor Baker announced new guidance regarding mask wearing indoors and outdoors, which can be found here.
• Additionally, on April 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance for mask wearing based on 1) whether you have been vaccinated, 2) if you are indoors or outdoors, and 3) who you are spending time with. This easy-to-follow guidance can be found here.
• With the increased spread of the new variants, it is now more important than ever that we all continue to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

You are fully vaccinated:

• two weeks after one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or
• two weeks after the SECOND dose of a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

After you are fully vaccinated, you can do the following things safely:

• Visit indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks or social distancing
• Visit indoors with unvaccinated people from one household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease without wearing masks or social distancing
• Skip quarantining and testing after you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 as long as you don’t have any symptoms

For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to take certain safety measures to protect others, as listed here.

No, the vaccine does not cause COVID-19. None of the approved COVID-19 vaccines were made with the virus.

People who have had COVID-19 should get the vaccine. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19.

If you have had COVID-19, you should have completed isolation and have no symptoms of COVID-19 before getting the vaccine.

Some people might get sore muscles, feel tired, or have mild fever after getting the vaccine. These reactions mean the vaccine is working to help teach your body how to fight COVID-19 if you are exposed. For most people, these side effects will last no longer than a few days. If you have any concerns, call your doctor or nurse.

It depends upon what type of vaccine you receive.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots for you to have full protection.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one shot for you to have full protection.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should discuss this with their obstetric provider. The risk of Covid illness to pregnant women is high. While pregnant women were not initially included in vaccine trials, those women who became pregnant while in the vaccine trials were watched carefully, and did just fine after vaccination.

If you are breastfeeding, you can still get the vaccine and do not need to stop breastfeeding.

Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to get pregnant in the future?

Yes. People who want to get pregnant in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Based on current knowledge, experts believe that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to pose a risk to a person trying to become pregnant, either now or in the future. Like other vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines are being studied carefully and will continue to be studied for many years. There is no evidence suggesting that fertility problems are a side effect of ANY of these vaccines.

The COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) being used currently in Massachusetts do not have any:

• Eggs, pork (or other) animal products or gluten
• Antibiotics
• Blood products
• DNA
• Microchips
• Preservatives
• Soy

No. The COVID-19 vaccines currently being used in Massachusetts are “messenger RNA (mRNA)” vaccines.

• mRNA vaccines work by telling your body how to make a protein that helps you stay safe from the virus (this is called immunity).
• Injecting mRNA into your body will not do anything to your DNA. Your body will break down and get rid of the mRNA soon after it has been injected.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a different type of vaccine (viral vector vaccine) and it also will not affect your DNA.

More information on how these vaccines work can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Yes. The vaccine is free for all Massachusetts residents, including undocumented immigrants. Health insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid) will cover the cost of the vaccine for insured patients. People who do not have insurance will not be required to pay.

It is normal for viruses to change as they spread, and for new variants (or types) of viruses to appear. Scientists are working to learn more about the new variants— including if the vaccines we have—will protect against them.

Both the Pfizer and Modern vaccines were developed and studied before the new variants were discovered. Scientists believe that all three vaccines provide the same protection against the variant from the United Kingdom (known as B.1.1.7) as they do against the original virus.

All three vaccines are also effective against the South Africa variant (known as B.1.135) but the protection is not as strong as it is against the original virus or the United Kingdom variant.

Both Moderna and Pfizer are pursuing booster vaccines for the South Africa variant, as well as vaccines specifically targeted to this variant.

Information on vaccine efficacy for other variants of concern is not yet available.

• All mass vaccination locations are wheelchair accessible and do not require anyone to use stairs. Additional accessibility services depend on the location. Many of the locations have a drop off area for people who can walk a short distance.
• Some locations may also provide mobility assistance, or you may bring someone with you to help.
• Please review the specific mass vaccination location details to determine whether that site is a good fit for your accessibility needs. More information on mass vaccination site accessibility can be found here.
• In cases where accessibility information is not provided, you can call the location directly with questions.

Language translation services are available for all mass vaccination locations and many other vaccination locations.

• Individuals who are unable to use or have difficulty accessing the internet to schedule an appointment online may use the Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line: Call 2-1-1 (877-211-6277) and follow prompts for help making an appointment. The line is available:
  • Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line is available in English and Spanish and will have translators available to support residents in approximately 100 additional languages.
• Individuals will be able to speak to a representative live on the phone to assist them with an appointment through the state’s online system.

• MassHealth is providing free transportation to vaccine appointments to any individual who has any type of MassHealth coverage or the Health Safety Net. This includes people with MassHealth Limited, Children’s Medical Security Program (CMSP) and MassHealth Family Assistance (FA), in addition to MassHealth Standard, CommonHealth and CarePlus.
• Members can request transportation services directly through MassHealth’s Customer Service, rather than needing to request services through a healthcare provider. If an individual has MassHealth or the Health Safety Net, they (or a caregiver) can call their health plan or MassHealth directly to schedule free transportation at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648).
• MassHealth members enrolled in a Senior Care Option or One Care plan, or in a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), should continue to contact their health plan or PACE program directly for transportation assistance.

• Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is offering free transportation for local older adults to COVID-19 vaccination sites in Cambridge, Somerville and adjacent communities.
• If you are an older adult (age 60 and up) from Cambridge or Somerville and you need a ride to your vaccination site, call well ahead of your appointment to schedule a ride.
• Masks will be required during transportation.

For more information about the SCES vaccination transportation program, or to register for a ride, call SCES at 617-440-0995 or email info@eldercare.org.