Get the Facts

Vaccinating children can:

• Prevent children from getting seriously sick if they do get COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination continues to protect children against severe disease, including hospitalization. There is no way to tell in advance how children will be affected by COVID-19. Children with underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. However, healthy children without underlying medical conditions can also experience severe illness.
• Keep children safely in childcare and school and participating in sports, playdates, extracurricular activities, and other group activities.

To learn more, visit MOStopsCovid.com/kids.

Before recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children, scientists conducted clinical trials. Then, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and authorized it for emergency use in children.

Ongoing safety monitoring shows that COVID-19 vaccination continues to be safe for children and that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks.

Learn more about the safety of COVID-19 vaccination for children.

Reported side effects are like those experienced after routine vaccines. Side effects may affect your child’s ability to do daily activities, but they should go away within a few days. Side effects are more common after the second shot. Some children have no side effects.

Learn more about potential side effects in children after COVID-19 vaccination.

Although some reports of both myocarditis and pericarditis have been observed after some COVID-19 vaccinations, these reports are very rare. Myocarditis is a much more common complication from a COVID-19 infection.

In almost all cases, both myocarditis and pericarditis is mild and resolves quickly.

The COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of infection dramatically, which in turn prevents transmission in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.

Children ages 12 years or younger are just as likely to become infected with the virus as teenagers and adults, but 75% of infections in children are asymptomatic, according to a recent study by the National Institutes of Health. In addition, the study confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 transmission within households with children is high. . Infections were asymptomatic in 75% of children, 59% of teenagers and 38% of adults. In 58% of participating households where one person became infected, SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted to multiple household members.

It is true that adults and children can transmit COVID-19 if they are infected, even if they aren’t experiencing symptoms. However, symptomatic infection increases transmission risk because of virus spread through coughing and sneezing.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can protect your child and others by reducing both infection and, as a result, overall transmission risk to classmates, family members and friends who may be susceptible to severe illness.

The Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine for children ages 6 months through 11 has the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to adults and adolescents. However, the vaccine for children comes in a different vial with a different color cap. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccine that is given to adults and adolescents cannot be used for children ages 6 months through 11 years. Children ages 6 months through 11 years will receive an age-appropriate dose that is one-third of what adolescents and adults receive. Smaller needles, designed specifically for children, are used for children ages 6 months through 11 years. COVID-19 vaccine dosage does not vary by patient weight but by age on the day of vaccination. To be considered fully vaccinated with Pfizer, children (6 months-4 years of age) should get three doses, or with Moderna (6 months-5 years of age), two doses.

Yes. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.

Click here to view immunizations schedules by age group.

COVID-19 vaccine dosages are based on age and not size or weight. If a child turns from 11 to 12 years of age in between their first and second dose and receives the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for their first dose, it is recommended by CDC to administer the second dose using dosing guidance for those 12 and up.

Tromethamine (Tris) buffer replaced phosphate buffered saline (pbs) in both the vaccine authorized for children 6 months - 11 years and an additional formulation authorized for those 12 and older. The Tris buffer in the vaccine for those 6 months - 11 years, which is a very small amount at 0.15 mg, is an inactive ingredient and serves as a stabilizer used to aide in a simpler and longer storage period. This switch will allow for the Pfizer vaccine to be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures for up to 10 weeks, which may increase the vaccine’s availability to underserved areas.

Contrary to claims on social media, it is not being used to reduce blood acid levels in patients.

Tromethamine has been used safely as an ingredient in FDA approved vaccines, like Ebola Zaire, smallpox and dengue fever, as well as the FDA approved Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

No. Despite false claims that COVID-19 vaccines have increased Sudden Athlete Death Syndrome (SADS), scientific reviews, medical experts, and sports cardiologists have found no association between sudden death in athletes and vaccines.

To learn more, visit the Public Health Collaborative's complete analysis

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national early warning system to detect possible safety problems in U.S. licensed vaccines. VAERS accepts and analyzes reports of adverse events (possible side effects) following vaccination. VAERS accepts reports from anyone. Patients, parents, caregivers and healthcare providers (HCP) are encouraged to report adverse events after vaccination to VAERS even if it is not clear that the vaccine caused the adverse event. In addition, Health care providers are required to report certain adverse events after vaccination.

VAERS is not designed to detect if a vaccine caused an adverse event, but it can identify unusual or unexpected patterns of reporting that might indicate possible safety problems requiring a closer look.

VAERS is co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more about VAERS, click here.

In addition to clinical trial data, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is established as a national early warning system to detect possible safety problems in U.S. licensed vaccines. VAERS accepts and analyzes reports of adverse events (possible side effects) following vaccination. VAERS accepts reports from anyone. Patients, parents, caregivers and healthcare providers (HCP) are encouraged to report adverse events after vaccination to VAERS even if it is not clear that the vaccine caused the adverse event. In addition, Health care providers are required to report certain adverse events after vaccination.

VAERS is not designed to detect if a vaccine caused an adverse event, but it can identify unusual or unexpected patterns of reporting that might indicate possible safety problems requiring a closer look.

VAERS is co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more about VAERS, click here.

Hundreds of millions of Americans have been safely vaccinated, with the vast majority experiencing minor, temporary side effects. No safety concerns were identified for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in subgroup analyses by age, race, ethnicity, underlying medical conditions, or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, the single-dose Janssen vaccine and two-dose Novavax vaccines have also met safety and efficacy standards.

As an additional layer of checks and balances, an external advisory board made up of medical and research professionals using public health data have reviewed final COVID-19 vaccine data and recommended the Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen and Novavax vaccines be made available.

America’s best medical and research professionals have been working for years on coronavirus vaccines for SARS and MERS. SARS and MERS are different than COVID-19 but belong to the coronavirus family. The lessons learned through those developments are being applied today. Specifically, the effort to develop a COVID-19 vaccine began January of 2020.

Vaccine safety monitoring systems are in place to collect side effect data. If an unexpected adverse event is seen, experts quickly study it further to assess whether it is a true safety concern. Experts then decide whether changes are needed in U.S. vaccine recommendations. This monitoring is critical to help ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive vaccines.

Although the timeline has been accelerated, it doesn’t mean we skipped the integrity of the trial and approval processes. Scientists have had a jump on developing the COVID-19 vaccine, using their experience from previous coronavirus vaccine efforts. Another way scientists preserved safety and saved time was by working on efforts simultaneously, rather than one after another like the traditional process. For example, COVID-19 vaccines were in Phase III clinical trials at the same time they were being manufactured. When it was proven safe and effective, the manufactured vaccines were deployed. If the vaccines don’t pass the approval process, which is verified by an independent committee of health experts, the unproven vaccines won’t be used.

COVID-19 and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 and other vaccines on the same day.

Yes, patients should receive the same vaccine for both the first and second doses of Pfizer or Moderna. Your vaccination provider will give you a vaccine card stating the manufacturer name and other critical information you will need for a second dose.

Those who are eligible for a booster dose should receive a booster dose of either Pfizer or Moderna after the completion of a primary series of Pfizer or Moderna. In most cases, the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for primary and booster vaccination. To learn more, click here.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not recommended for individuals who have experienced a serious reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to a prior dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of its components. Those who have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the Janssen vaccine should not receive the Janssen vaccine. For information on vaccine components, refer to the manufacturers’ package inserts from Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen and Novavax.

COVID-19 vaccine ingredients are considered safe for most people. Nearly all of the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are ingredients found in many foods—fats, sugar, and salts.

None of the COVID-19 vaccines affect or interact with our DNA and the following are not included in the vaccines:

• No preservatives such as thimerosal or mercury or any other preservatives.
• No antibiotics such as sulfonamide or any other antibiotics.
• No medicines or therapeutics such as ivermectin or any other medications.
• No tissues such as aborted fetal cells, gelatin, or any materials from any animal.
• No food proteins such as eggs or egg products, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, nut products, or any nut byproducts. (COVID-19 vaccines are not manufactured in facilities that produce food products).
• No metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, titanium, or rare earth alloys. They also do not have any manufactured products like microelectronics, electrodes, carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures, or nanowire semiconductors.
• No latex. The vial stoppers used to hold the vaccine also do not contain latex.

After the body produces an immune response, it discards all of the vaccine ingredients, just as it would discard any substance that cells no longer need. This process is a part of normal body functioning.

After getting vaccinated, you might have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea throughout the rest of the body. These side effects could affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Click here to learn more about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

No. Every day, a healthfy immune system successfully fights off thousands of germs. Antigens are parts of germs that cause the body’s immune system to go to work to build antibodies, which fight off diseases. The antigens in vaccines come from the germs themselves, but the germs are weakened or killed so they cannot cause serious illness. Even if people receive several vaccinations in one day, vaccines contain only a tiny fraction of the antigens they encounter every day in their environment. Vaccines stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to fight off serious vaccine-preventable diseases.

Pfizer’s clinical trial enrolled 44,000+ participants with 42% globally having racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Of Moderna’s 30,000 trial participants, 37% were from minority communities, including 6,000 Hispanic and 3,000 Black participants. Janssen’s trial included 43,783 participants in the United States, Latin America and South Africa. Novavax clinical trials included nearly 30,000 from the U.S. and Mexico.

Yes. Whether you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, obstetricians recommend getting vaccinated against COVID-19. It is widely accepted in the medical community that the impact of being infected by COVID-19 during pregnancy can be devastating.

There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.

States are required to verify that the vaccinators have licenses for the states they will be vaccinating in and that they are in good standing. The Bureau of Immunizations within DHSS will verify licenses utilizing professional boards of registration.

The overwhelming majority of people who are infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 recover after some time. That means in most cases, a patient's immune response is adequate enough to suppress the virus and eliminate it from their body. That gives medical professionals confidence that a vaccine could initiate a similar response without the risks of a natural infection.

We also had a jumpstart on the development of this vaccine. America’s best medical and research professionals have been working for years on coronavirus vaccines for SARS and MERS. SARS and MERS are different than SARS-CoV-2 but belong to the coronavirus family. The lessons learned through those developments are being applied today. Specifically, the effort to develop a COVID-19 vaccine began months ago.

to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death. Two of the most common vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, have been updated to protect against two of the most commonly circulating variants, BA.4 and BA.5.

To learn more about booster eligibility and supporting data, click here.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing infection, serious illness, and death. 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 "vaccine breakthrough infection."

• Fully vaccinated people with a vaccine breakthrough infection are less likely to develop serious illness than those who are unvaccinated and get COVID-19.
• Even when fully vaccinated people develop symptoms, they tend to be less severe symptoms than in unvaccinated people. This means they are much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people who are not vaccinated.
• According to the CDC, studies show so far that vaccinated people are 8 times less likely to be infected and 25 times less likely to experience hospitalization or death than unvaccinated people.

To learn more, click here.

At this time, the CDC does not recommend taking pain relievers before a COVID-19 vaccination appointment because there is not enough information to determine the impact the medications may have on the immune response. However, they may be used post-vaccination to ease discomfort.

COVID-19 is a deadly disease that causes severe illness – and in some cases, long term symptoms that we have yet to fully understand. The COVID-19 vaccine candidates have been created to decrease death and severe illness.

Although a high percentage of people recover from COVID-19, some are hospitalized and experience severe illness. It is also somewhat common to have the virus but never experience symptoms, and it is possible to spread the virus to others even when symptoms are not present. When you make the choice to be vaccinated, you are protecting not only you but also those around you from the chance of death and severe illness caused by COVID-19.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have an initial 95% efficacy rate and remain highly effective in preventing severe disease. The CDC has published that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines had a constant efficacy rate across age, sex and ethnicity categories, as well as among individuals with underlying medical conditions and those who have been previously infected by SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, initial clinical data showed protection is achieved 28 days after the initiation of the Pfizer vaccine, which consists of a 2-dose schedule.

According to Moderna's website, initial trial data was used to estimate a vaccine efficacy of 94.5%. Initial data from Moderna also shows the vaccine may provide some protection against asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Janssen’s clinical trials showed an 85% efficacy rate in preventing hospitalization and complete protection against death caused by SARS-CoV-2 after one dose, and up to 94% efficacy after a booster dose is administered.

Novavax saw a 90% efficacy rate from their clinical trials. Initial data indicated that it has 100% efficacy rate specifically against moderate to severe disease.

All approved and authorized vaccines are highly effective. The different types of vaccines were not studied in head-to-head comparisons or trials; therefore, they should not be compared to each other.

The COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of infection dramatically, which in turn prevents transmission in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.

It is true that adults and children can transmit COVID-19 if they are infected, even if they aren’t experiencing symptoms. However, symptomatic infection increases transmission risk because of virus spread through coughing and sneezing.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can protect your child and others by reducing both infection and, as a result, overall transmission risk to classmates, family members and friends who may be susceptible to severe illness.

To ensure you are accessing the most recent data on this topic, we encourage you to visit CDC’s science brief on infection-induced and vaccine-induced immunity here.

Key findings and considerations as of Nov. 5, 2021 are as follows:

• Available evidence shows that fully vaccinated individuals and those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 each have a low risk of subsequent infection for at least 6 months. Data are presently insufficient to determine an antibody titer threshold that indicates when an individual is protected from infection. At this time, there is no FDA-authorized or approved test that providers or the public can use to reliably determine whether a person is protected from infection.
  • Multiple studies have shown that antibody titers correlate with protection at a population level, but protective titers at the individual level remain unknown.
  • The immunity provided by vaccine and prior infection are both high but not complete (i.e., not 100%).
  • Whereas there is a wide range in antibody titers in response to infection with SARS-CoV-2, completion of a primary vaccine series, especially with mRNA vaccines, typically leads to a more consistent and higher-titer initial antibody response.
  • For certain populations, such as the elderly and immunocompromised, the levels of protection may be decreased following both vaccination and infection.
  • Current evidence indicates that the level of protection may not be the same for all viral variants.
  • The body of evidence for infection-induced immunity is more limited than that for vaccine-induced immunity in terms of the quality of evidence (e.g., probable bias towards symptomatic or medically-attended infections) and types of studies (e.g., observational cohort studies, mostly retrospective versus a mix of randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, and cohort studies for vaccine-induced immunity). There are insufficient data to extend the findings related to infection-induced immunity at this time to persons with very mild or asymptomatic infection or children.
• Substantial immunologic evidence and a growing body of epidemiologic evidence indicate that vaccination after infection significantly enhances protection and further reduces risk of reinfection, which lays the foundation for CDC recommendations.

Emerging data also indicate that reinfection by SARS-CoV-2 (in an endemic environment) may occur around 16 months for individuals in an endemic state.

A vaccine is necessary to help you and your community shape a new normal. Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines boost your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to or spreading the virus.

Yes. Reinfection can happen in patients. Some evidence suggests natural immunity from SARS-CoV-2 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this. Vaccination should not occur until the patient has met criteria to discontinue isolation.

Antibody testing is not currently recommended to assess for immunity to COVID-19 following COVID-19 vaccination or to assess the need for vaccination in an unvaccinated person. Since vaccines induce antibodies to specific viral protein targets, post-vaccination serologic test results will be negative in persons without history of previous natural infection if the test used does not detect antibodies induced by the vaccine.

Those who may have the virus need to know so they can take measures to keep from infecting others. Testing also helps inform us of the status of viral activity in our communities so we can make informed and safe decisions.

A simple test can provide peace of mind for you, your family and your community. Testing is not only for those who have symptoms, but important for periodic surveillance especially when interacting with vulnerable populations and crowds. Many camps, events, and travel now require evidence of a test result before participation.

A COVID-19 test is a one-time assessment, and will only show if the individual is infected at the time of the test. For those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, testing is highly recommended. Those who have not been fully vaccinated and have had significant contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 should get tested.

The State continues to offer community testing events in areas throughout the state in a regular weekly cadence. Additionally, most urgent care clinics now have rapid testing resources available. Free at-home kits are available to order, though the federal governmnent at COVIDTests.gov, and rapid tests are available over the counter through several retailers.

Contact your health care provider or an urgent care clinic near you, or visit Health.Mo.Gov/CommunityTest to find additional testing options.

Yes! At-home tests that check for presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are available for free through the federal government at CovidTest.gov Rapid tests are also over the counter through several retailers and are reimbursable in may cases. To learn more about the fedreral reimbursementprocess for at-home test kits, please visit CMS.gov.

State-sponsored community testing events are free COVID-19 testing options that are available to anyone without a specific reason for needed for testing. At-home tests that check for presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are also available for free to Missouri residents (see above).

Clinics or other providers may charge a fee or bill your insurance, if applicable.

Testing has become widely available in the United States. Below are the types of tests you may seek, depending on your situation.

• PCR: high-sensitivity, high-specificity tests used to diagnose a current or recent COVID-19 infection by detecting genetic material specific to SARS-COV-2.
• Antigen: used to diagnose a COVID-19 infection by detecting a specific protein from the virus. These tests often have a quick turnaround time and are referred to as “rapid tests.”
• Antibody (serlogy): used to detect antibodies made by your immune system in response to a COVID-19 exposure. Antibody tests are not used to diagnose active infection.

To learn more about testing types and results, visit CDC.gov.

Missouri is participating in the national surveillance for COVID-19 variants of concern. Our state’s public health laboratory is sequencing a limited amount of samples for presence of genetic material specific to each variant. To see the latest data, visit CDC.gov.

Since February 2021, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services has been collaborating with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the University of Missouri to test wastewater samples for the presence of COVID-19variants in our communities. You can learn more about Missouri’s Sewershed Surveillance Project by clicking here at Health.Mo.Gov/coronavirus.

DHSS is not offering replacement cards; however you can complete a Request for Official State of Missouri Immunization Records form, and DHSS can send you a copy of the immunization record on file in ShowMeVax, the statewide immunizations registry. Submit the completed form to have your request processed, either by email or fax: ImmunizationRecordRequests@health.mo.gov / 573-526-0238 (fax).

No. Despite false claims that COVID-19 vaccines have increased Sudden Athlete Death Syndrome (SADS), scientific reviews, medical experts, and sports cardiologists have found no association between sudden death in athletes and vaccines.

To learn more, visit the Public Health Collaborative's complete analysis

Rumor: COVID-19 vaccines causes autoimmune disorders.
Fact: The mRNA in the COVID-19 vaccines is heavily modified to not trigger the immune system in a way that would cause autoimmunity as a complication. Currently, many studies are underway to investigate safety and risk of disease flare after administering COVID-19 vaccines in patients with autoimmune diseases. Modified mRNA vaccines have been already used for several years for other indications, and there is no data indicating that mRNA vaccine can cause an autoimmune disease. Overall, vaccine experts and physician scientists agree that the benefits of vaccines outweigh the potential risks.

Rumor: The vaccine was rushed, so it can't possibly be safe.
Fact: No corners have been cut in developing a COVID-19 vaccine. Scientists have had a jump on developing the COVID-19 vaccine, using their experience from previous coronavirus vaccine efforts. Another way to preserve safety and save time is by working on efforts simultaneously, rather than one after another. For example, COVID-19 vaccines were in phase 3 clinical trials at the same time they were being manufactured. When their safety and efficacy was proven, manufactured vaccines could be used. If they didn’t pass the approval process, the unproven vaccines wouldn’t have been used.

Rumor: The vaccines can give you COVID-19.

Fact: You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccines. None of the approved and COVID-19 vaccines (or others currently in development) contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This makes it impossible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19.

Some individuals may contract COVID-19 after being vaccinated because they may have been exposed to COVID-19 prior to being vaccinated or before they obtain their second dose of vaccine. After receiving two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, individuals could have 94-95% protection from contracting COVID-19 (based on clinical trial efficacy). Janssen’s clinical trial data show an estimated 85% efficacy rate against severe forms of COVID-19. If an individual still contracts COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, the person will most likely have extremely mild symptoms or be asymptomatic.

Rumor: There are new strains of SARS-CoV-2 in the United Kingdom and South Africa, so the new vaccines won’t be effective.

Fact:According to medical experts, including current and former U.S. Surgeon Generals, there is no firm reason to believe that the vaccines that have been developed and approved in the U.S. will not be effective against new strains of the virus.

Rumor: You can get Bell’s palsy from the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fact: Bell’s palsy is not considered to be a side effect of the vaccines. Cases of Bell’s palsy, a temporary condition, were reported in few participants in the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider these to be above the rate expected in the general population. They have not concluded these cases were caused by vaccination. Additionally, those who have previously had Bell’s palsy may receive a Pfizer, Moderna or Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Rumor: I can get HIV from the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fact: You cannot get HIV from any of the COVID-19 vaccines. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines encoding spike protein specific only to the virus causing COVID-19, and only contain necessary ingredients to ensure a safe delivery of the mRNA to initiate an immune response. Participants in the clinical trial of the Australian COVID-19 vaccine (not Pfizer or Moderna) developed positive HIV tests, but those were all false positive tests. The Australian vaccine was using sequences similar to the tiny part of the HIV virus to stabilize their vaccine to improve delivery, and all participants were informed that they may develop false positive HIV test.

Rumor: I can test positive for COVID-19 after being vaccinated.

Fact: Vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States won’t cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. This rumor is false even for the Janssen vaccine, which uses viral vector (carrier) technology aided by a modified adenovirus. Adenoviruses cause the common cold and differ greatly from coronaviruses. Additionally, the adenovirus used as a carrier in Janssen’s vaccine has been modified to ensure no illness will result.

If your body develops an immune response, which is the goal of vaccination, there is a possibility 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. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.

Rumor: If I get vaccinated and am then tested for COVID-19, I will receive false positive results.

Fact: Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will not affect your PCR or antigen test results since these tests check for active disease, not immunity. There is no live virus present in any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The vaccine is intended to induce an immune response, so a serology test (antibody test) may be positive in someone who has been vaccinated.

Rumor: The flu vaccine will also work against coronavirus.

Fact: Influenza and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) belong to two different RNA virus families, so one vaccine is not interchangeable for another. Influenza belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family, while SARS-CoV-2 is classified in the Coronaviridae family. Further, both the Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 rely on different protein layers to initiate responses. Influenza uses two surface antigens, while SARS-CoV-2 uses spike proteins, so their immunization approaches are different.

However, it is important that you also consider getting the flu vaccine this year. In a typical year, more than 100,000 Missourians become sick from the flu and some are hospitalized. To ensure Missouri has the capacity to care for COVID-19 patients, we need to do whatever we can to prevent additional strains on our healthcare system.

Rumor: The COVID-19 vaccines will tamper with your DNA.

Fact: : That rumor is baseless. mRNA provides a set of instructions to your cells to create an immune response specific to COVID-19. Medical doctors independent of the vaccine development teams have verified that using mRNA will not alter the DNA of our body's cells. The COVID-19 vaccines were created through mRNA technology. They do not introduce DNA into your body.

This rumor is false even for the Janssen vaccine, which uses viral vector (carrier) technology aided by an modified adenovirus. The vector used in Janssen’s vaccine is a harmless adenovirus (like the common cold) that has been modified so it won’t be able to replicate or cause illness.

Rumor: The vaccine contains Syncytin-1, which is vital for the formulation of human placenta in women.

Fact: Medical professionals have called this “an utterly bizarre claim.” None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain Syncytin-1. Furthermore, there are no protein-based vaccines among the candidates in phase 3 clinical trials for COVID-19. Scientifically, there is no sequence homology between SARS-CoV-2 and Syncytin-1, so any immune response initiated by the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 would not affect Syncytin-1.

Rumor: The vaccine was rushed for political reasons.
Fact: The approval process does not include approval from any elected official. Scientific data and information generated by large-scale clinical trials is reviewed by the U.S. FDA, medical and public health experts from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the CDC before a vaccine will be made available. The federal effort called Operation Warp Speed has no formal oversight of or control over the vaccine approval process that determines safety and efficacy.

Rumor: Bill & Melinda Gates will use the COVID-19 vaccine to collect human biometric data that will then be uploaded to a cloud environment and connected with cryptocurrency.
Fact: There is no tracking chip technology involved in the COVID-19 vaccine, or any vaccine. Although the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been involved in philanthropy and public health for years, there is no truth in this rumor.

Rumor: Mercury will be present in the COVID-19 vaccines and is dangerous.

Fact: Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines do not contain mercury. Also, mercury is not a confirmed ingredient in any other COVID-19 vaccines at this time, but has been safely used in extremely small amounts to prevent dangerous germs, like bacteria and fungi, from growing in multi-dose vaccine vials. By preventing that harmful bacteria growth, residents see fewer severe local reactions.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the world. There are two primary types of mercury that humans may come into contact with: methylmercury and ethylmercury. Methylmercury can be toxic to humans in high doses and is not used in vaccines. Ethylmercury is used in extremely small amounts to prevent harmful bacteria from growing in vaccines and is quickly cleared from the human body. The ethlymercury medical product Thimerosal has a record of being very safe. Data from many studies show no evidence of harm caused by the extremely small amounts used in vaccines.

Rumor: The government just wants to use me as a "guinea pig."
Fact: All residents that have participated in clinical studies thus far have volunteered to do so and residents who choose vaccination will not be considered a test subject. Vaccinators will be required to track severe reactions to the vaccine, which is standard protocol for all vaccines.

Rumor:The virus is a hoax.
Fact: COVID-19 is not a hoax and neither is the vaccine. It is recommended by medical professionals that you consider getting vaccinated.

Rumor: Microchip hardware will be used in a vaccine to track Americans.
Fact: There will not be any tracking mechanisms inside of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Rumor: Getting a COVID-19 vaccines will stop you from donating blood.
Fact: According to the American Red Cross, receiving the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will not affect your eligibility to donate blood. You may donate blood, with no waiting period, even after you have been fully vaccinated. Individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible to donate convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients.