If I am infected with COVID-19, do I still need to be vaccinated?
Yes, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that anyone who has previously been infected with COVID-19 be vaccinated.
Data shows that it is not common to get COVID-19 again within 90 days of being infected, so you may have some protection (called natural immunity). However, it is not clear how long natural immunity can last.
If possible, people who currently have COVID-19 should wait until they feel better and the quarantine period is over before getting the vaccine.
People who have recently been exposed to COVID-19 should also wait until the quarantine period has passed before getting the vaccine, provided they can safely isolate themselves from others. If they are at a high risk of infecting others, they may be vaccinated during isolation to prevent the spread of the disease.
If I have had an allergic reaction to the vaccine in the past, can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
People with a known history of severe allergic reactions should not be vaccinated, such as allergic reactions, previous doses of mRNA or viral vector vaccines, or any component of Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson—Jensen COVID-19 vaccine.
People who have a severe allergic reaction to other vaccines or injection therapies may still be able to get the vaccine. However, providers should conduct risk assessments and advise them on potential risks. If the patient decides to vaccinate, the provider should observe them for 30 minutes to monitor for any immediate reactions.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that providers observe all other patients for at least 15 minutes after vaccination to monitor allergic reactions.
What are the ingredients in the vaccine?
You may see some rumors and untrue elements online or on social media. These are usually myths. The ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine are very typical for vaccines. They contain the active ingredients of mRNA or modified adenovirus, as well as other ingredients such as fat, salt and sugar, which can protect the active ingredients, help them to function better in the body, and protect the vaccine during storage and transportation.
For more information on the ingredients, please refer to the Q&A page of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid.
Does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine contain fetal tissue?
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is manufactured using the same technology as many other vaccines. It does not contain parts of the fetus or fetal cells. One vaccine is made from replicas of laboratory-grown cells that originally came from a selective abortion that occurred 35 years ago.
Since then, the cell lines of these vaccines have been kept in the laboratory, and other fetal cell sources are no longer used to make these vaccines. This may be new information to some people.
However, the vaccines for varicella, rubella and hepatitis A are made in the same way.
