COVID-19 (coronavirus 2019) vaccine, Moderna

What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?

The FDA has authorized emergency use of this vaccine as it may help prevent infection with COVID-19. This vaccine has not been approved to prevent or treat coronavirus or COVID-19.

If you have a certain type of reaction after the first dose of this vaccine, your healthcare provider will determine if you can safely receive the second dose.

What is the COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 is a serious disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 (Serious Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). COVID-19 is spread from person to person through the air.

COVID-19 can affect your lungs or other organs. Symptoms may be mild or serious and include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, tiredness, body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, runny or stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine to help prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2. The Moderna vaccine is for use only in adults.

This vaccine may help your body develop immunity to SARS-CoV-2. However, this vaccine has not been approved to prevent or treat coronavirus or COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccine is experimental and all of its risks are not yet known. The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain coronavirus and cannot give you COVID-19.

Like any vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine may not provide protection in every person.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine?

If you are infected with COVID-19, are waiting for testing results, or are exposed to someone infected with COVID-19: You may not be able to receive this vaccine until you have no symptoms and/or your required quarantine period has ended.

Tell the person giving you this vaccine if you have a fever, or if:

• you've received any treatment or medication for COVID-19 infection in the past 90 days;
• you've received or will receive any other vaccine within 14 days before or after your COVID-19 vaccine;
• you have a weak immune system caused by disease or by using certain medicine (this vaccine may not be as effective if you are immunosuppressed);
• you have bleeding problems;
• you use a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin, or Jantoven); or
• you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

COVID-19 is more likely to cause serious illness or death in a pregnant woman. Not all risks are known yet, but this vaccine is likely to be less harmful than becoming infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy.

How is this vaccine given?

Read all vaccine information sheets provided to you.

COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle, in a series of 2 shots given 1 month apart. Your first and second shot should both be the Moderna type of COVID-19 vaccine.

You will receive a reminder card showing the date and type of your first injection. Take this card with you when you get your second shot.

It may take a few weeks for your body to build immunity to COVID-19. You may become infected with COVID-19 if the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will not cause you to test positive on a coronavirus test. However, once your body develops immunity to COVID-19, you could test positive on an antibody test (a test to detect immunity in your body from previous exposure to coronavirus).

It is not known how long this vaccine will protect you from infection with COVID-19. It also is not known how long immunity will last in a person who's been infected with and recovered from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine is still being studied and all of its risks are not yet known.

COVID-19 vaccine is transported and stored at very cold temperatures. However, this vaccine will be at room temperature when it is injected into your arm.

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid after receiving this vaccine?

Avoid receiving other vaccines without first seeking medical advice.

What are the possible side effects of this vaccine?

An allergic reaction is more likely to occur within 30 minutes after you receive the vaccine. You will be treated quickly if you have a reaction.

You should not receive the second vaccine if the first shot caused an allergic reaction. Your healthcare provider will determine if you can safely receive the second dose.

• pale or clammy skin, sweating, feeling warm or cold;
• feeling anxious, nauseated, weak, or light-headed;
• slow heartbeats, rapid breathing; or
• changes in vision or hearing.

Common side effects may include:

• fever, chills, swollen glands;
• swelling or tenderness under your arm;
• pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given;
• nausea, vomiting;
• feeling tired; or
• headache, muscle pain, joint pain.

You may be able to treat these effects with an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others). Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions.

Other side effects, mild or serious, may occur with more widespread use of COVID-19 vaccine.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

What other drugs will affect this vaccine?

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor about all other vaccines you have received in the past 14 days. Also tell your doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system.

Other drugs may affect COVID-19 vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about this vaccine. Additional information is available from your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.