ATLANTA, GA-Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection. With all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.
It typically takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. Therefore, it is possible that a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection.
Sometimes after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal signs the body is building immunity.
What You Need to Know
COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness.
Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection.
None of the COVID-19 vaccines can give you COVID-19.
Bringing new vaccines to the public involves various steps, all which must be followed before they are made available for use.
None of these vaccines can give you COVID-19.
- Vaccines do not use any live virus.
- Vaccines cannot cause infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 or other viruses.
They do not affect or interact with our DNA.
- These vaccines do not enter the nucleus of the cell where our DNA (genetic material) is located, so it cannot change or influence our genes.
Developing COVID-19 Vaccines
While COVID-19 vaccines were developed rapidly, all steps have been taken to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Bringing a new vaccine to the public involves many steps including:
- vaccine development,
- clinical trials,
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization or approval,
- and development and approval of vaccine recommendations through the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC.
As vaccines are distributed outside of clinical trials, monitoring systems are used to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
Media Release/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
