About COVID-19 Vaccines

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Booster Doses Now Recommended for Some Groups of People.

The CDC recommends Pfizer boosters six months after their second dose for:

Older adults age 65+ and those living in long-term care facilities
Adults ages 50-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19, due to underlying medical conditions
Adults ages 18-49 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions should consider a booster based on an assessment of their individual benefits and risks and consultation with their medical provider.
Adults age 18-64 for people whose jobs put them at high risk for COVID-19

Millions of Americans are now eligible for booster shots, but there’s more guidance coming soon for others. Booster doses are common for many vaccines. As the science and the virus evolves, so will official policies and recommendations.

Vaccine Updates

Sept. 24: Pfizer booster shot approved by CDC for at-risk groups
Aug. 23: FDA approves first COVID-19 vaccine
Aug. 19: CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People

The Vaccines

There are three vaccines currently approved for COVID-19 in the U.S.:

2-Dose Pfizer-BioNTech
2-Dose Moderna
1-Dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen
- CDC Guidance: What if I want to get, or have already received the J&J vaccine?

Side Effects

Each of the vaccines may cause some side effects including:

Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where you got the shot
Tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, or nausea throughout the rest of the body

Side effects usually start within a day or two after getting the vaccine and usually go away in a few days. Having symptoms like these after you get the vaccine is normal and a sign your immune system is learning to fight the virus. Find more tips from the CDC on what to expect after getting vaccinated and rare severe allergic reactions.

Thanks to Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA), you are entitled to paid sick leave for going to a COVID-19 vaccination and recovering from side effects.

Protection

It takes about two weeks after your final dose for your body to be fully protected against COVID-19 illness. It is not yet known how long the vaccination will offer protection against the virus.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides recommendations after COVID-19 vaccination in private settings.

Revaccination Questions

Read the CDPHE Revaccination FAQs if you are concerned you may need to get vaccinated again due to problems at your vaccine provider.

Breakthrough Infections

A very small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still develop the illness. Learn what the CDC says you should know about this possibility.