The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved for children age 5-11, and teens and adults age 12 and older. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been approved for adults age 18 and older.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?

From the common cold to the seasonal flu, your body is busy fighting off bacterial and viral infections.

The more your body fends off an infection, the better it’s able to respond when it encounters the infection.

One way your body fights infection is with antibodies. These antibodies attack the virus or bacteria making you sick, both by killing the virus and keeping it from reproducing.

COVID-19, which comes from a novel — or “new” — coronavirus, has been so dangerous because no one has encountered it before. Practically no one’s body has experience in fighting off the infection.

The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain a live virus and has no risk of making you sick with COVID-19. This type of vaccine, called an mRNA vaccine, works by triggering the production of new antibodies in your body that fight the coronavirus. It does not change your DNA — it “teaches” your body to fight the virus.

Early research has shown that the vaccine is even more effective than the seasonal flu vaccine at helping your body fight the virus. It’s up to 70% effective after the first dose, and 90% or better after the second.

The risk of side effects remains low and most side effects usually resolve within 36 hours.

Even if you were to get sick with COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine, your body will be much better prepared to fight off the infection, so you will likely get better, faster.

How much will the vaccine cost?

The federal government and vaccine manufacturers have ensured that the vaccine will be available at no cost to any American who wants it.

If you are contacted or solicited by someone offering the vaccine for a fee, there’s a high probability that the offer is a scam.

You also should consider only trusting vaccines administered through reputable healthcare organizations, like doctor’s offices, hospitals and pharmacies. The supply chain for the vaccine will be strictly regulated to ensure supply and safety.

After you get the vaccine

Vaccination protects you, but not others. When you receive the vaccine, it will still be important to continue the behaviors that have been shown to limit the virus’ spread. That includes hand hygiene and wearing a mask in public.

Once most people have been vaccinated, these measures can be reduced. But it will require the widespread availability and use of the vaccine to achieve this. That means you will have to take the shots and follow up on all recommended boosters of the vaccine.

From smallpox to polio, science has helped us safely eradicate many dangerous diseases. Taking precautions now — including wearing masks, social distancing, avoiding group gatherings and taking both doses of the vaccine when available — will reduce the risk of exposure, hospitalizations, and save lives.