Sarah Bennett
Vaccines are life-saving tools that protect us from deadly diseases. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines have been developed and distributed globally to curb the spread of the coronavirus. There are currently four types of vaccines in clinical trials: whole virus, protein subunit, viral vector, and nucleic acid (RNA and DNA). These vaccines work by mimicking the body's natural response to infection, boosting immunity and protecting against severe disease outcomes. While COVID-19 vaccines have been deemed safe and effective, there is ongoing research to create vaccines that protect against future SARS-CoV-2 variants and unknown coronaviruses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of COVID-19 vaccines | mRNA vaccines, recombinant spike protein vaccine |
| How mRNA vaccines work | Contain messenger RNA of the virus that has been manufactured in a lab. The mRNA gives cells in the body instructions for how to make a protein or a piece of a protein of the virus. |
| How recombinant spike protein vaccine works | Contains a harmless version of the coronavirus spike protein that is manufactured in a lab and is recombined with other substances. |
| Effectiveness | COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any live virus, so they cannot give people a COVID-19 infection. These vaccines help people develop immunity to protect against severe outcomes resulting from COVID-19 infection. |
| Side effects | Heart problems in a small fraction of young men, seven severe cases of shingles for every million shots administered, severe allergic reactions, heart inflammation |
| Criticisms | Ineffective because they don't prevent infection, dangerous |
| Availability | Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, CyanVac |
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What You'll Learn
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective
Several COVID-19 vaccines are currently in Phase 3 trials. Phase 1 and 2 studies are small by design, with just hundreds of participants. However, Phase 3 studies are underway for the Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines, the Oxford/AstraZeneca viral vector vaccine, and the Johnson & Johnson viral vector vaccine. Each of these vaccines uses the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein to trigger the immune system to generate protective antibodies and a cellular immune response to the virus.
Vaccination has triggered a more potent neutralizing antibody response than even that seen in patients recovering from COVID-19. This has been the case for Moderna's vaccine, currently in Phase 3 trials, and for vaccines from CanSino Biologics and Oxford/AstraZeneca. While mild to moderate reactions have been observed, these side effects are temporary and include pain, warmth, and tenderness at the site of injection, fever, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, headache, chills, nausea, feeling unwell, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms usually go away within a day or two and can be managed by getting some rest, drinking fluids, or taking pain-relieving medications.
COVID-19 vaccines help ensure that COVID-19 does not result in severe disease and death. They have been shown to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and its potentially severe complications. In fact, unvaccinated people have a 6.1 times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people. The FDA has officially approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and both have been updated to target newer versions of the virus. The FDA has also issued an emergency-use authorization for an updated COVID-19 vaccine developed by Novavax for people 12 and older. All three vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
It is safe and effective to receive different COVID-19 vaccines and to co-administer other vaccines during the same visit. For example, pregnant women can safely receive the COVID-19 vaccine alongside the seasonal influenza vaccine. Vaccination is important for pregnant women to protect themselves and their families. No safety concerns have been identified for vaccinated pregnant women or their babies.
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COVID-19 vaccines do not change DNA
COVID-19 vaccines have been developed at record speed, but they have been subject to the same rigorous scientific and regulatory standards as any other vaccine. These vaccines have been proven safe and effective, offering potentially life-saving protection against a disease that has killed millions.
Despite this, misinformation and false claims continue to circulate, threatening to undermine the success of these vaccines and putting people's lives at risk. One such claim is that COVID-19 vaccines alter your DNA. This is categorically false.
Dr. John Bonamo explains that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines do not change your DNA. Instead, they give your body the capability to create antibodies that will fight off the virus. mRNA vaccines contain messenger RNA of the virus that has been manufactured in a laboratory. This mRNA provides cells with instructions on how to create a protein or a piece of a protein unique to the virus. As a result, the body's immune system can recognize and protect against future infection by creating antibodies. Importantly, the mRNA in the vaccine cannot enter the nucleus of cells and therefore does not interact with your DNA.
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any live virus, so they cannot infect recipients with COVID-19. While these vaccines are highly effective, no vaccine is perfect, and breakthrough infections can occur. However, vaccination provides a massive immune boost, even against new variants, and helps prevent severe outcomes from COVID-19 infections.
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COVID-19 vaccines do not contain live virus
The COVID-19 vaccines have been subject to rigorous testing in clinical trials to prove that they meet internationally agreed benchmarks for safety and efficacy. They have been deemed safe and effective by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other national regulatory agencies.
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain a live virus. This means that there is no risk of causing disease in the person being vaccinated. This is because mRNA vaccines, which were used to make some of the COVID-19 vaccines, do not contain a live virus. Instead, they make proteins that trigger an immune response.
Some people have expressed concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, including the claim that it contains a live virus that can be transmitted. This claim appears to stem from a letter sent by Centner Academy, a private school in Miami, Florida, to parents, asking them to keep their children home for 30 days after receiving the vaccine. However, doctors have refuted this claim, stating that none of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the US contains a live virus.
It is important to note that COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to save lives and prevent severe disease and death. In 2021 alone, COVID-19 vaccines saved at least an estimated 14.4 million lives worldwide. The vaccines have been recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, with priority given to older adults, people with chronic diseases, pregnant people, immunocompromised individuals, and health workers.
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COVID-19 vaccine side effects are rare
As of 2025, COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to billions of people worldwide. While all vaccines carry some risk of side effects, COVID-19 vaccine side effects are typically mild and rare.
The most common side effects are minor and temporary, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, or muscle pain. These symptoms usually subside within a day or two and can be managed with rest, hydration, or over-the-counter pain relievers.
More serious side effects, such as myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (swelling of the thin sac covering the heart), have been reported but are extremely rare. According to a study of 99 million people, the risk of these rare side effects is significantly lower than the risk of developing similar conditions from a COVID-19 infection.
Additionally, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been linked to an increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare disorder involving blood clots and low platelet levels. This syndrome has occurred in approximately 3.8 per million vaccinated individuals, with a higher prevalence in women aged 18 to 49.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe disease and death greatly outweigh the risks of these rare side effects. The vaccines have been rigorously tested and monitored worldwide, and the vast majority of vaccinated individuals experience no significant side effects.
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COVID-19 vaccines for adolescents and young adults
Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect oneself from serious diseases. COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective in preventing severe disease and death. In 2021 alone, they saved an estimated 14.4 million lives worldwide.
The FDA has approved two vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, both of which have been updated to target newer variants. The FDA has also issued an emergency-use authorization (EUA) for an updated Novavax vaccine for individuals 12 and older. All three vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
While the emergency phase of COVID-19 is over, the virus continues to spread and endanger lives, particularly those who are older, have chronic diseases, are immunocompromised, or are pregnant. It is recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get vaccinated.
However, there is ongoing debate surrounding the endorsement of the COVID-19 vaccine for younger children. The FDA is considering discontinuing the authorization for children under 5, which has sparked concern among public health experts as coronavirus still poses a threat to healthy children under 2. For children between 5 and 11 years old, the Pfizer vaccine is expected to be approved and available. Moderna's vaccine has also been granted full approval by the FDA for children with health conditions that increase their risk of infection.
In addition, there have been concerns raised about the safety of mRNA vaccines, including those from Pfizer and Moderna, for adolescents and young adults. A 2024 study found a link between COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and myocardial scarring in this age group. However, it is important to note that COVID-19 vaccines are continuously monitored by regulatory authorities worldwide, and serious reactions are extremely rare.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are currently several vaccines available for COVID-19, including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and CyanVac.
There are four types of vaccines in clinical trials: whole virus, protein subunit, viral vector, and nucleic acid (RNA and DNA). mRNA vaccines, such as those developed by Pfizer and Moderna, are one of the most common types and have been shown to be safe and effective.
COVID-19 vaccines mimic the body's natural response to infection by providing a massive immune boost. They do not contain any live virus, so they cannot cause infection, and they do not change your DNA.
The side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are typically mild and may include a temporary impact on menstruation. However, there is a very small chance of a severe allergic reaction, and heart problems have been reported in a small fraction of young men.
