Based on the facts and science behind the COVID-19 vaccines, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network believes that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will be one of the best ways to protect yourself and everyone around you.

Clinical trials found the COVID-19 vaccines to be effective in preventing serious COVID-19 illness across trial participants from multiple backgrounds. For that reason, we are working diligently to offer the vaccine to as many people as possible, as soon as possible.

Understandably, you may have questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines and getting vaccinated. Below you will find helpful facts about the vaccines and the science behind them to help answer your questions and put myths to rest as we work together to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 VACCINES

V-safe is a smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker to track side effects for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines across the country. V-safe uses text messaging and web surveys from the CDC to check in with COVID-19 vaccine recipients. V-safe also provides telephone follow up to anyone who reports medically significant adverse events.

Vaccine doses will be offered at no cost. There is an administration fee to be vaccinated; however, it is currently covered by all health insurers. Froedtert & MCW health network will not bill uninsured patients for the administration fee. There will be no out-of-pocket costs to individuals for the vaccine or administration.

Mild to moderate side effects like fever, body aches, soreness at the injection site and chills may occur in some people who receive a COVID-19 vaccine–a good sign your immune system is working. Your arm may feel sore at the place where the shot was given for several days afterward.

Those who have received a flu shot can receive the COVID-19 vaccine and booster, if eligible, and vice versa. COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines can be done at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that immune response — the way our bodies develop protection — after vaccination and possible vaccine side effects are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.

Even after vaccination, it's important to continue to wash your hands and stay home if you are feeling ill to prevent future infection.

The COVID-19 vaccines cannot affect or interact with your DNA. mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response, and viral vector vaccines use a modified version of a different virus as a vector to deliver instructions to a cell. Neither change or interact with your DNA in any way.

Clinical trials found the COVID-19 vaccines to be effective in preventing serious COVID-19 illness across trial participants from multiple backgrounds.

It took less time to develop the COVID-19 vaccine because it is an mRNA vaccine, not a conventional vaccine. Many conventional vaccines require a lot of bacteria or virus, which can take months (or years) to grow. Because the COVID-19 vaccine is synthetic, it can be produced faster in response to large outbreaks.

Learn more: COVID-19 can cause serious long-term health problems and even be fatal. All of this can be avoided by getting vaccinated and boosted, if eligible.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you should wait until you meet the criteria for getting vaccinated. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you will also need to wait to recover from your illness. This guidance also applies to people who get additional or booster doses.

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