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Myths & Facts
Updated Oct. 4, 2021
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NOTICE: CDC now recommends that children between the ages of 5 and 11
years receive the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine. Learn more
about vaccines for children and teens.
How do I know which COVID-19 vaccine information sources are
accurate?
Accurate vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and
rumors.
It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. Before
considering vaccine information on the Internet, check that the information
comes from a credible source and is updated on a regular basis. Learn more
about finding credible vaccine information.
New variants of a virus happen because the virus that causes COVID-19
constantly changes through a natural ongoing process of mutation (change).
Even before the COVID-19 vaccines, there were several variants of the virus.
Looking ahead, variants are expected to continue to emerge as the virus
continues to change.
No. VAERS data alone cannot determine if the reported adverse event was
caused by a COVID-19 vaccination. Anyone can report events to VAERS, even
if it is not clear whether a vaccine caused the problem. Some VAERS reports
may contain information that is incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental, or
unverifiable. These adverse events are studied by vaccine safety experts who
look for unusually high numbers of health problems, or a pattern of
problems, after people receive a particular vaccine.
The mRNA vaccines do not contain any live virus. Instead, they work by
teaching our cells to make a harmless piece of a “spike protein,” which is
found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. After making the
protein piece, cells display it on their surface. Our immune system then
recognizes that it does not belong there and responds to get rid of it. When
an immune response begins, antibodies are produced, creating the same
response that happens in a natural infection.
In contrast to mRNA vaccines, many other vaccines use a piece of, or
weakened version of, the germ that the vaccine protects against. This is how
the measles and flu vaccines work. When a weakened or small part of the
virus is introduced to your body, you make antibodies to help protect against
future infection.
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. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is
building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more
about how COVID-19 vaccines work.
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Last Updated Oct. 4, 2021
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