What to know about COVID-19 vaccines

Watch a video to learn COVID-19 vaccine safety and why they're recommended. 

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized 3 COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use authorization (EUA). These vaccines are as safe¹ as possible and were developed to help protect people from COVID-19. There is 1 one-dose vaccine and 2 two-dose vaccines. Like other vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines can take several weeks after the second dose to provide protection.

Like the flu vaccine, vaccination providers will administer the COVID-19 vaccine based on availability. Vaccination providers may not have all FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines at their location.

Important reminders on the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide:

• While COVID-19 vaccines may help protect the individual from the virus, it is not yet known if vaccinated people can still give the COVID-19 virus to others.
• The duration of protection against COVID-19 is currently unknown.

Because of these reasons, continue to follow public health safety guidelines to help protect yourself and others. Wear a face mask, practice physical distancing and wash hands regularly.

The use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has resumed. Medical and scientific teams with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did a thorough review that found this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. As of April 23, 2021 and out of more than 6.8 million doses administered, the FDA and CDC found a total of 15 cases of severe blood clot in people after receiving Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. All of these cases occurred in women between the ages of 18 and 59, with a median age of 37 years. Reports indicated symptom onset between 6 and 15 days after vaccination. The FDA and CDC have determined the chance of blood clots and low platelets occurring is very low, and the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older. The FDA and CDC remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk.

The Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheets for Healthcare Providers and Patients have been updated to include information about this very rare and serious type of blood clot. Women younger than 50 years old should be aware of this rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination. Other COVID-19 vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, are available where this risk has not been seen.

The safety of vaccines is a top priority, and millions of people have already been safely vaccinated. The CDC states this potential safety issue was caught early and reflects the vaccine safety system is working. The brief pause reflected the federal government’s commitment to transparency as the CDC and FDA reviewed data. COVID-19 vaccines have undergone, and will continue to undergo, intensive safety monitoring

Learn more about the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine on the CDC website.  

The safety of vaccines is a top priority, and millions of people have already been safely vaccinated. All FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are as safe and as effective as possible at preventing COVID-19, according to the CDC. They are key to slowing the pandemic. The U.S. vaccine safety system makes sure all vaccines go through an extensive process to confirm levels of safety. The recently FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines went through this process. Even after emergency use authorization, the FDA continues to review clinical data about the vaccines. The CDC website has additional COVID-19 vaccine safety information. 

According to the CDC, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine safety issue was caught early and reflects the vaccine safety system is working. The brief pause reflected the federal government’s commitment to transparency as the CDC and FDA reviewed the data. Medical and scientific teams with the FDA and CDC did a thorough review that found Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines have undergone, and will continue to undergo, intensive safety monitoring

The CDC website has additional COVID-19 vaccine safety information.

Side effects from vaccines are normal signs that your body is building protection. As with other vaccines and according to the CDC, people have reported some side effects with the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines. The most common side effect is a sore arm. Some other side effects may feel like flu and might even affect your ability to do daily activities. But they should go away in a few days. You can learn more on the CDC website.

According to the CDC, if you got Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine more than 3 weeks ago, your risk of developing a blood clot with low platelets is very low. If you got this vaccine within the last 3 weeks, your risk of developing a blood clot with low platelets is also very low. However, be on the lookout for possible symptoms of a blood clot with low platelets, which typically occurs within 3 weeks of vaccination, and seek medical care urgently if you develop any of these symptoms: severe headache, backache, blurred vision, fainting, seizures, severe pain in your abdomen or stomach, severe pain in your chest, leg swelling, shortness of breath, tiny red spots on the skin (petechiae), or new or easy bruising or bleeding.

In the event of an emergency, you should call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.

If you have side effects that bother you or do not go away, you should report them to your vaccination provider or primary care provider. You should also notify the CDC at 1-800-822-7967. This is because the CDC and FDA continue to monitor the safety of the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines. You can also use the CDC’s v-safe mobile app, which will help you monitor side effects and get second dose reminders.

The FDA has a review process for safety and effectiveness that it completes before it will authorize vaccines for emergency use by the general public. Once the FDA authorizes a vaccine for emergency use, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet to vote on recommending the vaccine.

When evaluating an emergency use authorization (EUA), the FDA carefully balances the potential risks and benefits of the products based on the data currently available. During the national public health emergency period, the FDA continues to monitor both the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

As more COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for emergency use by the FDA, ACIP will quickly hold public meetings to review all available data about each vaccine and make recommendations for their use in the United States. Learn more about how the CDC is making COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.

The current FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are not recommended for people with certain conditions or of different ages. The current vaccines are authorized for use among the following ages:

• Pfizer is not authorized for people under the age of 16.
• Moderna is not authorized for people under the age of 18.
• Johnson & Johnson's Janssen is not authorized for people under the age of 18.

Per the FDA, women younger than 50 years old should be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after Janssen vaccination. Other COVID-19 vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, are available where this risk has not been seen.

There are other special considerations for when it might not be a good time to get the vaccine:

• If you've recently been exposed to COVID-19, see the CDC guidelines for getting the vaccine. 
• If you’ve had monoclonal antibody treatment or received convalescent plasma, the CDC states vaccination should not occur for at least 90 days.

Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

According to the CDC, if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine or an injected medicine, you should ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine. A severe reaction is one that requires treatment at a hospital or with medications like an EpiPen (epinephrine). According to the CDC, the likelihood of severe reaction to the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines is very low.    

The CDC recommends the people who have seasonal allergies or allergies to food, pets or oral medications, can still be vaccinated. If you have any questions, you should check with your health care provider. 

For more information, you can read the FDA’s Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet and Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccinations should be offered to people regardless of whether they have previously had COVID-19. You do not need an antibody or diagnostic test before or after you are vaccinated to learn if the vaccine worked.

Anyone currently infected with COVID-19 should wait to get vaccinated until after their illness has resolved and after they have met the criteria to discontinue isolation. Additionally, current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. So, people with a recent infection may delay vaccination until the end of that 90-day period.

According to the CDC, experts are continuing to study the variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. There are multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, and these variants seem to spread more easily than other variants. Currently, there is no evidence that these variants cause more severe illness or increased risk of death.

FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines play an essential role in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and protecting people’s health. To help protect your and your loved one’s health, you also need to follow public health safety practices:

• Wear face masks
• Physically distance
• Wash your hands regularly
• Isolate or quarantine when sick
  

 Visit the CDC website to learn more about the virus variants.

The CDC recommends wearing a mask to protect others as well as yourself. This is a way to protect your health, along with washing hands regularly, physically distancing and avoiding crowds.

Important reminders to make sure your mask works the best it can, according to the CDC:

1. Make sure the mask fits snugly against your face. Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets in and out around the edges of the mask.
2. Pick a mask with layers so it helps keep your respiratory droplets in, while keeping droplets from others out.
3. Two masks used together, such as a surgical mask with a cloth mask offers better protection to you and to those around you.

Learn more about mask fit on the CDC website

According to the CDC, masks should be worn:

• By people 2 years of age and older
• Any time you are in a public setting
• When you are with people who do not live with you, including inside your home or someone else’s home
• Inside your home if someone you live with is sick with symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive for COVID-19

Learn more about when to wear a mask on the CDC site

Local public health agencies determine quarantine recommendations. According to the CDC, quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Exposure is defined as 15 minutes or more of being within 6 feet of an individual who has tested positive or had symptoms within 2 days of exposure. By staying home or not going in public, quarantine helps prevent disease spread before a person knows they have the virus.

The CDC has identified 2 groups of people who do not need to quarantine when exposed:

• People who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to quarantine following a direct exposure to someone with COVID-19, unless they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Fully vaccinated people are considered those who have had both doses of a two-dose vaccine or the one-dose vaccine, and 2 weeks have passed to allow for the vaccine to work. There are additional considerations for patients and residents who are fully vaccinated and in health care settings.
• People who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months do not need to quarantine.

Learn more on the CDC website.

According to the CDC, isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, staying in a specific “sick room” and using a separate bathroom if possible. The length of the isolation period depends on several factors. Review the CDC’s recommendations for when isolation can end based on the situation.

FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are available at participating retail pharmacies, doctors’ offices, hospitals and federally qualified health centers. Supplies are currently limited, and local availability may vary by time and day. We encourage you to look to local news, health departments, pharmacies and health care providers for information and resources on vaccine availability in their area. 

Since supplies are limited at this time, vaccination is occurring in phases, with those at highest risk getting vaccines first. FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine distribution is being coordinated by the CDC and state and local health departments.

According to the CDC recommended phasing, the first groups of people to be offered the vaccine should be:

• Phase 1a: Health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities
• Phase 1b: Essential workers (e.g., police officers, firefighters, teachers, etc.) and people age 75 and older 
• Phase 1c: People who are 65 to 74 years old; people 16 to 64 years old with high-risk, underlying medical conditions; and other essential workers (e.g., transportation, food service, public safety, etc.)
• Phase 2: People age 16 and older not already vaccinated
• Phase 3: Children and young adults, pending recommendations for vaccination

States and your local area may vary from this guidance.

COVID-19 vaccines may be more available in the spring to mid-year time frame as additional vaccines may be FDA-authorized, produced and distributed. As these vaccines may become more widely available, we’re committed to helping you get a COVID-19 vaccine easily and conveniently.

While we are working to provide you the current information, look to the local news, health departments, pharmacies and health care providers for information and resources on vaccine availability in your area.

If you have questions about vaccine recommendations given your specific health conditions, talk to your health care provider or other health care professional.

Like the flu vaccine, vaccination providers will administer the COVID-19 vaccine based on availability. Vaccination providers may not have all FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines at their location. If you have questions, we encourage you to talk to your health care provider.

UnitedHealthcare recommends you get the first COVID-19 vaccine that becomes available to you and is recommended by a health care professional. Availability of COVID-19 vaccines varies across pharmacies, doctors’ offices and other vaccination providers.

We also encourage you to keep your doctor informed of your vaccination. Your UnitedHealthcare digital vaccination record, available through your online UnitedHealthcare member account and mobile app, is one way you may choose to share your vaccination information with your doctor or other health care provider.

Here’s what we understand today: 

• Be prepared to show your photo ID, such as a driver’s license, to show proof of age. You might also need proof of residency. Your health department website or vaccination provider may also have a list of required documents.  
• Medicare plan members: 
  • You will need your red, white and blue Medicare card because Medicare is paying for your vaccine in 2021. If you don’t have your Medicare card, you can find it by logging in to your Social Security account. More information can be found on the CMS site.
  • If you receive your vaccine at a regular provider visit, you will also need your UnitedHealthcare member ID card.   
• Non-Medicare plan members: Bring your UnitedHealthcare member ID card. 

Remember to wear your face mask and to physically distance at your appointment. 

Additional information on preparing for your vaccination appointment can be found on the CDC website.

For many members, UnitedHealthcare pays an administrative fee to the vaccination provider that covers the member’s standard observation. By showing your health insurance card, you are also helping make sure there is a digital record of your COVID-19 vaccination available through your online UnitedHealthcare member account.

If you receive additional services during your vaccination appointment or get the vaccination during a regular office visit, you may be responsible for copays, deductibles, coinsurance or out-of-network charges, according to your benefits plan. You should not receive any bills for your COVID-19 vaccination from your provider or UnitedHealthcare during the national emergency health period. Your vaccination provider should not charge you for the standard observation, which is the 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccination.

Here are 3 key points from the CDC to keep in mind for your appointment: 

1. Your vaccination provider will likely monitor you after receiving the vaccine. This is in case of a rare allergic reaction. So, you’ll want to plan some extra time.
2. Plan ahead for your second dose by scheduling your second vaccine appointment if possible. You can also sign up for free text messaging through the CDC’s VaxText to a get a reminder about your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
3. You should receive a vaccination card during your appointment that says which vaccine you received, the date it was received and where it was received. We suggest you keep your vaccination card in a safe place.

If you are receiving a two-dose vaccine, your vaccination card will be updated to reflect both doses at your second dose appointment. We encourage you to keep your card with you.

If you are receiving the two-dose vaccine, you will need to get both doses within 3-4 weeks to get the protection indicated by the manufacturer. Make sure both doses you receive are from the same manufacturer and get your second dose as close to the recommended timing as possible. Follow the vaccination instructions from the manufacturer:

• Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Requires 2 doses, given 3 weeks apart
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Requires 2 doses, given 1 month apart
• Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine: Requires no second dose

We strongly encourage you to schedule both doses at the same time to meet these time frames and get protection from COVID-19. The vaccination provider should assist you with scheduling the second dose when you receive your first dose. They should be able to tell you when to get the second dose. 

You can also sign up for free text messaging through the CDC’s VaxText to a get a reminder about your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDC recommends getting the second dose as close to the recommended timing of 3-4 weeks as possible. Follow the vaccination instructions from the manufacturer.

If you miss your second vaccination appointment or are outside the recommended second-dose timing, you can still get the second dose. Schedule your next appointment with your vaccination provider as soon as you can. You won’t need to start over with the first dose. And even if the second dose is late, the second dose will still help you get protection from COVID-19. Schedule your next appointment with you vaccine provider as soon as you can. 

You should have received a vaccination card at your first appointment with information on the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer, date of your first vaccination and when your second dose is due. If you cannot find that, your vaccination provider can help you know which vaccine you received.