Chloe Ramirez
The COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing for almost five years now, and vaccinations have been a key part of the global response. Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19, and they are continuously monitored by regulatory authorities such as the WHO to ensure their safety. While the vaccines do not contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus, they do provide protection against severe disease and death. This protection wanes over time, and updated vaccines are being developed to target new variants. Vaccination is recommended for everyone, including those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to conceive, as well as those with comorbidities and immunocompromised individuals.
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What You'll Learn
COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness
COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in protecting the population from severe disease and death. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed eight vaccines under its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) as of 20 December 2021. These include adenoviral-vectored vaccines, whole-inactivated coronavirus vaccines, and messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.
The approval process for COVID-19 vaccines is stringent, with regulators reviewing data on composition, purity, potency, and manufacturing processes to ensure consistency and quality. Safety monitoring continues even after approval, with regulators taking decisive action if any issues arise. This includes communicating safety information, updating product details, and restricting or revoking vaccine authorisation if necessary.
While reported side effects have been consistent with clinical trials, some people have expressed concerns about adverse events, leading to hesitancy or opposition to vaccination. These side effects include headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, fever, chills, and pain at the injection site. Regulators have developed lists of "Adverse Events of Special Interest" to monitor and quickly investigate any reported events.
Reviews of safety data by international regulators have found no new safety concerns for older adults, including the frail elderly. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has not detected any new safety signals in relation to COVID-19 vaccines, and real-world data from England and Scotland indicate that the vaccines decrease symptomatic infections and hospitalisations in older people.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and regulators are committed to ongoing safety monitoring and transparent communication to support public confidence in vaccination.
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Vaccine availability and accessibility
As of September 2025, there is uncertainty around the latest COVID-19 vaccine's availability. Many pharmacies and clinics have disposed of last season's doses, and with COVID infections rising, it is unclear whether people should get the old vaccine or wait for the new one.
In the US, federal guidance and vaccine availability vary from state to state. Some states are breaking away from federal guidance, and it is unclear how the CDC's vaccine advisory committee will rule due to the recent addition of prominent opponents of vaccines to the committee.
Outside of the US, Australia and the Netherlands have also faced challenges with vaccine availability and accessibility. In Australia, a study found general public support for infection control measures and an overall positive sentiment surrounding the vaccine. However, the study also highlighted the importance of addressing misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and a lack of trust in government and scientific efforts. In the Netherlands, a survey of 4,033 residents found that the strongest determinant for vaccination intentions was the belief that the COVID-19 crisis will only end if many people get vaccinated. Other strong determinants included beliefs about vaccine safety, social benefits, social norms, and effectiveness.
To improve vaccine availability and accessibility worldwide, various proposals and initiatives have been put forward. The COVAX Facility, co-led by CEPI, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the WHO, aims to enable access to safe and effective vaccines for the most vulnerable in participating economies. Additionally, the Vaccines Europe (VE)/International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) Task Force, supported by the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturing Network (DCVMN), works to improve the supply of vaccines outside of outbreak or pandemic situations. While these efforts are ongoing, regulatory challenges and a lack of global convergence, harmonization, and reliance continue to limit equitable and timely access to vaccines.
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Who should get the vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. The vaccines are safe for most people, and serious reactions are extremely rare. However, there are specific groups of people for whom the vaccine is especially important.
Firstly, older adults are at a higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, so it is recommended that they stay up to date with the vaccines. This is also true for people with weakened immune systems, including those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, and those with certain medical conditions. Revaccination is also recommended for health workers.
Additionally, the vaccine is recommended for pregnant people, those who want to get pregnant in the future, and those who are breastfeeding. Vaccination during pregnancy is safe and effective and helps protect both the parent and the baby.
It is worth noting that the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 is higher than the risk of experiencing cardiac complications from the vaccine, especially in adolescent and young adult males. Therefore, the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.
For those who have recently had COVID-19, it is recommended to wait at least three months after infection before getting the vaccine to maximize the immune response.
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Vaccine ingredients
The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Instead, they contain ingredients that help our bodies develop immunity to the virus. The active ingredient in the vaccines is messenger ribonucleic acid, or mRNA, which is a type of genetic material. The mRNA contains instructions for our body to make the viral protein that triggers an immune system response, specifically, a spike protein found on the outer wall of the coronavirus. Our bodies then recognize this spike protein and begin to create antibodies to fight COVID-19 if we encounter the real virus.
The mRNA molecules are protected and surrounded by lipids, which are fatty substances also found in our food and cell membranes. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is another ingredient derived from petroleum and commonly used in laxatives and as a stabilizer in other medications and cosmetics. Sucrose, a form of sugar, is also found in all COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It helps maintain the stability of the vaccine and keep it effective.
The Pfizer vaccine, for example, contains highly purified mRNA and sugar (sucrose) as well. The Moderna vaccine contains mRNA molecules wrapped in an oily coating of lipids, along with sucrose, salt, and acid stabilizers like tromethamine and tromethamine hydrochloride. The Novavax vaccine, a protein subunit vaccine, contains viral proteins, adjuvant, lipids, sugar, salt, and acid stabilizers.
These ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccines have undergone strict clinical trials and have been verified for safety. While the specific ingredients and amounts may vary between different vaccines and brands, they all work towards the common goal of helping our bodies develop immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Side effects
The COVID-19 vaccine cannot give you coronavirus. All vaccines are tested for safety and efficacy before being administered to the public, and their safety and effectiveness continue to be monitored.
Like all medicines, the COVID-19 vaccine can cause side effects, but these are usually mild and tend to disappear within a few days. Side effects may include swollen glands in the armpit or neck, fever, fatigue, muscle soreness, pain, chills, nausea, headaches, and soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site. In rare cases, inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or pericarditis) has been reported after the adult dose of coronavirus vaccines, particularly after the second dose. These cases have mostly been observed in younger men and have usually occurred within 14 days of vaccination.
The occurrence and intensity of side effects vary from person to person and depend on factors such as age and the state of the individual's immune system. Some people may experience side effects after the first dose but not the second, or vice versa. Others may not experience any side effects at all, which does not mean that the vaccine is not working or that their immune system has not accepted it. As long as sufficient antibodies are produced, there is no cause for concern.
If you experience side effects that seem to get worse or persist beyond the expected timeframe, it is recommended to contact a healthcare professional for advice.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the coronavirus vaccine does not contain the coronavirus. The Pfizer vaccine, for example, is an mRNA vaccine that delivers instructions to the body's cells to make specific viral proteins that can be recognised by the immune system to fight the Covid virus.
Yes, the coronavirus vaccines are safe and effective. They do not affect your sex life and you do not need to abstain from sex.
Yes, while natural infection does provide some immunity, experts do not yet know how long it lasts. The vaccine will give you the same protection that it offers to those who haven't had Covid-19 and will cover you from variants.
Yes, it is safe to have the coronavirus vaccine at the same time as another vaccine, such as the flu vaccine.
Side effects from the coronavirus vaccine are normal and usually subside quickly. If you experience symptoms, it is still important to get your second dose, as this will give you the best protection against the virus.
