How can I get a copy of my COVID-19 vaccination record card?

If you have lost your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card or don’t have a copy, contact your vaccination provider directly to access your vaccination record. If you cannot contact your vaccination provider site directly, contact your state health department’s immunization information system (IIS).

How do I know if I’ve been fully vaccinated if I was vaccinated in another country?

If you have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and medicine Administration (FDA) or is listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), then you are considered to be fully vaccinated.

Is it normal to have side effects after second COVID-19 vaccine?

Side effects after your second shot may be more intense than the ones you experienced after your first shot. These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection and should go away within a few days.

Can you still get COVID-19 after vaccine?

Most people who get COVID-19 are unvaccinated. However, since vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19. An infection of a fully vaccinated person is referred to as a “breakthrough infection.”

How do I transfer my proof of vaccination from another country to get a proof of vaccination card in the United States?

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CDC does not keep vaccination records or determine how vaccination records are used. To update your records with vaccines you received while outside of the United States, you may:

  • Contact the immunization information system (IIS) in your state. You can find state IIS information on the CDC website.
  • Contact your healthcare provider or your local or state immunization program through your state’s health department.

The CDC-labeled white COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards are only issued to people vaccinated in the United States. CDC recommends you keep your documentation of being vaccinated in the other country as proof of vaccination. CDC also recommends checking with your primary care provider or state health department for options to document your vaccination status domestically.

How long will it take to build immunity after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Do I need to wear a mask if I have been vaccinated for COVID-19?

On July 27, 2021, CDC released updated guidance on the need for urgently increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage and a recommendation for everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission to wear a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated.

What does the COVID-19 vaccine do in your body?

COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine reduce the risk of asymptomatic infection?

Overall, vaccination reduced the risk of asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection by 79% in vaccinated employees compared with their unvaccinated colleagues. Further, an analysis of asymptomatic infections alone found vaccination reduced the risk by 72%.

How long after the COVID-19 booster are you protected?

As is the case with your initial COVID-19 shots, it will take two weeks after receiving your booster for your body to produce as much coronavirus antibodies as the extra jab allows, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesperson told McClatchy News.

Will getting a COVID-19 vaccine cause me to test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.​

If your body develops an immune response to vaccination, which is the goal, you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus.

Learn more about the possibility of COVID-19 illness after vaccination

Can I get reinfected with COVID-19 after I have been vaccinated in Kentucky?

These findings suggest that among persons with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, full vaccination provides additional protection against reinfection. Among previously infected Kentucky residents, those who were not vaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected compared with those with full vaccination.

Is there a difference between a booster and COVID-19 vaccine?

Are booster shots the same formulation as existing vaccines? Yes. COVID-19 booster shots are the same formulation as the current COVID-19 vaccines. However, in the case of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, it is half the dose of the vaccine people get for their initial series.

How long do COVID-19 spike proteins last in the body?

The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) estimates that the spike proteins that were generated by COVID-19 vaccines last up to a few weeks, like other proteins made by the body.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine boost your immune system?

Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.

Is it better to get a booster of a different COVID-19 vaccine?

Currently, the CDC doesn’t have a “product preference” on one booster over the other. The agency says that while it’s generally recommended to stick to the same brand for primary and second vaccine series, people can choose whichever booster they’d like.

What is a COVID-19 booster shot?

A COVID booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine given after the protection provided by the original shot(s) has begun to decrease over time. Typically, you would get a booster after the immunity from the initial dose(s) naturally starts to wane.

Do I really need a COVID-19 vaccine booster?

Boosters are being recommended because data is showing that protection against mild and moderate COVID-19 via the vaccines is declining over time — particularly for those who were vaccinated some time ago.

Should I mix and match my COVID-19 booster shot?

The CDC has said that it is safe for people to get a booster shot that is different from the vaccines they originally received. In this “mix and match” approach, someone who received two Pfizer-BioNTech shots in their initial vaccination series might opt to get a Moderna booster shot, for example.

Can I choose which COVID-19 vaccine to take as a booster shot?

You may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Why are Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine side effects worse after the second shot?

Side effects from both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are more common after the second dose. This is because your immune system recognizes the virus spike protein from the first dose of the vaccine and mounts a stronger response.