All your vaccines questions answered right here

We got you. If you are unable to see the message below, [click here to view](. [Update your preferences](newsletter=slf) [SELF]( [Have you heard the good news?]( The FDA has given emergency authorization to [three COVID-19 vaccines.]( Significantly more people are becoming eligible to get the vaccines, too: Just this week, at least [a dozen states]( will widen their eligibility requirements to allow all adults, regardless of their health status, to get vaccinated. This is huge! With [the continued rise of several concerning coronavirus variants]( in the U.S., it’s more important than ever that those who can get vaccinated seriously consider doing so. Maybe you, a friend, or a family member is thinking about getting a COVID-19 vaccine soon, or maybe you’ve got an appointment already and you’re just curious about what to expect. So I wanted to share a bit of information about how these vaccines actually work, along with a few SELF stories that may answer other questions you might have about the vaccines—like why they’re so necessary, and what [life might look like]( in a few months now that we have them available. From the very beginning of the pandemic, experts said that developing a vaccine would be a major milestone in our ability to (eventually) reduce the level of COVID-19 in our society to a point at which we could start resuming our normal activities. Now we have not just one, but three safe and effective vaccines that dramatically help prevent COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalizations, and deaths. Two of the vaccines, from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, rely on [mRNA technology]( to elicit a protective immune response in the body. So what does that actually mean? Well, mRNA contains the genetic information your body needs to produce its own version of the spike protein that sits on the surface of the coronavirus. Once it has that, the body’s immune system begins to build a defense—antibodies—that will protect you if you encounter the actual coronavirus. (Note that these vaccines do not alter your own DNA.) Experts are particularly excited about these vaccines because the mRNA technology they use has been studied and developed for decades, but these are the first to actually be FDA-authorized and used on this scale. Of course, that’s not to downplay the excitement of other vaccines, including the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This one utilizes an inactivated virus (a type of adenovirus) to allow the body to develop its immune response rather than mRNA technology. And, unlike the mRNA vaccines that require two doses, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose. All three of these vaccines—along with the public health tools we all know by now (wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands)—can make a huge difference in the way we fight this pandemic. They also come with a potential for [side effects](, just like every other medication or treatment out there. The side effects that you might experience after getting these vaccines can be severe enough to make it hard to do your daily tasks, but only temporarily. Most commonly, people experience soreness in the arm they got their shot, fatigue, and headaches that last a few days and then go away. Some people also may develop a fever, chills, or body aches, but again these are temporary. For most of us, enduring these side effects will be worth getting the protection the vaccines provide. And when enough people are vaccinated, we can reach what’s called herd immunity. Essentially, once we achieve herd immunity, that means [enough people in the population are vaccinated]( against COVID-19 that the virus isn’t able to spread widely—and even those who can’t or won’t get the vaccines will benefit from that protection. (One thing to note is that herd immunity requires the vaccines to prevent transmission of the virus, not just symptoms. It’s looking more and more like the vaccines do prevent transmission, but that hasn’t been shown conclusively yet.) If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about how the vaccines work, how they compare to each other, or how to make that vaccine appointment as easy and seamless as possible, check out the links below. And if you have other questions that you can’t find answers to, feel free to reach out to us at letters@self.com. —Sarah Jacoby, Associate News Director [COVID-19 vaccine.]( [9 Ways to Prepare for Your COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment]( [How to make it easy before, during, and after.]( [READ MORE »]( [Who gets the COVID-19 vaccine first? A CDC panel has some guidelines.Heather Hazzan. Wardrobe styling by Ronald Burton. Prop styling by Campbell Pearson. Hair by Hide Suzuki. Makeup by Deanna Melluso at See Management. 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