Vaccine Information and Planning

About the vaccine

Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and additional vaccines are being developed by other manufacturers. The EUA process has allowed for clinical trials and manufacturing to occur simultaneously, while still allowing for rigorous testing to determine how safe and effective it is.

Safety is top priority.
The first goal is to focus on the safety of the vaccine and determining how effective it is. Before any vaccine is released, it must first complete three phases of clinical trials to study its effect on thousands of diverse study participants. Once that study is done, the pharmaceutical company submits the results for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. FDA. This is a way to make important health breakthroughs available to the public quickly.

The vaccine is then reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP is a federal advisory committee of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the U.S. public.

The CDC recommends the Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. For booster vaccination, CDC recommends eligible people 5 and older receive an age-appropriate, updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine that offers better protection against variants. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for anyone age 18 and older if no other approved vaccine is available because of a slightly increased risk for a rare but serious blood clotting disorder. Most people who developed these blood clots and low levels of platelets were females ages 18 through 49 years. Symptoms typically began one to two weeks following vaccination, and no cases occurred more than 30 days following vaccination. The chance of this occurring is remote. You should seek medical attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms after receiving Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine:

• Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Leg swelling
• Persistent abdominal pain
• Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection
• V-Safe Information Sheet (English) (Spanish) (Chinese) (Korean) (Vietnamese)

Vaccine is available near you. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available for anyone 6 months and older, and the Novavax vaccine is available for anyone age 12 and older. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for anyone age 18 and older if no other approved vaccine is available.

Vaccines by Pfizer ( click here for Spanish version ), Moderna (click here for Spanish version), Novavax (click here for Spanish version) and Johnson & Johnson (click here for Spanish version) are now available. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 6 months and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.

Already received the vaccine? Make sure you’re on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s v-safe after vaccination health checker.

Vaccine is free. Your insurance may be billed an administration fee, but patients will not be charged.

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should take precautions after exposure to COVID-19.

• As soon as you find out you were exposed, wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public. Continue to mask for 10 full days after your exposure.
• Watch for symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough or shortness of breath and isolate immediately if you develop symptoms. Use the Indiana COVID-19 Testing Map or the IDOH online registration system to find a testing site near you.
• Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure even if you don’t develop symptoms. If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.
• Take extra precautions if you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.

Vaccine Information:

Host a Community COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Event

• FDA VIDEO: Are the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccines safe?
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for recipients 12 years of age or older
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for recipients 5-11 years of age
• Pfizer Vaccine Recipient Fact Sheet
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
• Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Recipient Fact Sheet 
• FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Moderna Vaccine
• Moderna Vaccine Recipient Fact Sheet
• Novavax Vaccine Recipient Fact Sheet
• Vaccine Information for you and your family (CDC)
  • 8 Things to Know about Vaccine Planning
  • Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
  • Busting Myths and Misconceptions about COVID-19 Vaccination
• How to Be Prepared: What to Bring When You Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine (updated 4/05/21)
• Vaccine vs. Infection (updated 3/16/21)
• IDOH Privacy Policy