1.

What vaccines are available?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 and older. The following vaccines are approved under an FDA Emergency Use Authorization: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for ages 18 and up, Johnson and Johnson for ages 18 and up, and Pfizer for ages 12 through 15.

2.

Will the vaccines protect me against the Delta variant?

The most effective way of combatting the Delta variant continues to be through vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccines approved for Emergency use authorization in the U.S. remain extremely effective at preventing severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalization.

These vaccines are extremely effective at keeping patients out of the hospital and at preventing death from COVID-19.

Breakthrough infections, where vaccinated people become ill, have occurred and are to be expected, but they are typically mild.

3.

Are the vaccines safe?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval process, even in an Emergency Use Authorization situation, prioritizes health and safety.

Both the Pfizer and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines should not be administered to individuals with a known history of a severe allergic reaction to previous vaccines, to any component of the vaccine, or to the first dose of this vaccine, without additional clinical evaluation.

The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine is not recommended for individuals who have experienced an allergic reaction to any ingredient of their vaccine. Ingredients are listed on the J&J fact sheet above under patient resources.

Immunocompromised people, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response.

Adverse reactions reported in vaccine trials were mild and included: injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, injection site swelling, injection site redness, nausea, malaise (generally not feeling well), and lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes).

There is a remote chance the Moderna and J&J COVID-19 vaccines could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after receiving a dose. For this reason, the UTHealth Vaccine Hub will be monitoring patients after they receive their vaccine as per our safety protocol. Recipients are monitored between 15 to 30 minutes for reactions.

4.

How do I sign up to receive a vaccine through UTHealth and UT Physicians? *Updated*

8 The UTHealth Vaccine Clinic will be moving within the UT Health Science Center Professional Building to Suite 420, located at 6410 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030. 

The clinic is open Monday through Fridays, from 12:30 to 4:20 p.m.

Patients and community members may either schedule an appointment online or may choose to walk in.

Will the vaccines be FDA-approved? *Updated*

8 As of Aug. 23, 2021, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is FDA approved for individuals 16 and older.

The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Moderna (ages 18 and up), Johnson & Johnson (ages 18 and up), and Pfizer (ages 12 to 15) vaccines. EUA occurs if evidence strongly suggests patients have benefitted from a treatment or test and the treatment is safe, but not all regulatory steps have been completed.

8 No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States use the virus that causes COVID-19.

What should you mention to your vaccine provider before you receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

8 Tell your vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have allergies, fever, a bleeding disorder, pregnancy, breastfeeding, you have received another COVID-19 vaccine or you are immunocompromised.

8 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. You may consult your health care provider about the vaccination if you have any additional questions or concerns, but it is not required.

How long will my vaccine appointment take?

Once a vaccination appointment is made, please be sure to show up on time for the appointment. Doses are specifically scheduled to avoid waste, and the vaccine must be used within a specific timeframe.

The CDC recommends an observation period after receiving the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. For most people this will be 15 minutes after vaccine administration, and 30 minutes for people with a history of allergic reactions to vaccines.

8 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that, regardless of a past COVID-19 infection, you get vaccinated, unless you have had this infection within the previous 10 days. In those cases, you should defer vaccination until fully recovered.

8 The FDA has authorized use of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in adults 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for people aged 12 and older.

8 This is a question that has not yet been resolved; the medical community and vaccine producers will continue to study effectiveness and immunity levels to better understand the long-term vaccination strategy.

Getting vaccinated is strongly encouraged, but is not mandatory. If you decline the vaccine now, that doesn’t mean you can’t get it in the future.

When a vaccine is authorized under an EUA, they do not have an official Vaccine Information Statement. However, the FDA, together with the manufacturer, will provide a fact sheet when you are vaccinated. This fact sheet is similar to a standard Vaccine Information Sheet. Fact sheets on the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available on the FDA website.