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See the Types of COVID-19 Vaccines Available
CDC's Overview of COVID-19 Vaccines
What You Need to Know
- Four COVID-19 vaccines, which include primary series and boosters, are recommended in the United States.
- Vaccine recommendations are based on age, the vaccine first received, and time since last dose.
- People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have specific recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.
- Side effects after a COVID-19 vaccine are common, however severe allergic reactions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine are rare.
Types of COVID-19 Vaccines Available
There are four approved or authorized vaccines in the United States.
- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines.
- Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine.
- Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine and can be given in some situations.
These vaccines are given as a shot in the muscle of the upper arm or in the thigh of a young child. COVID-19 vaccine ingredients are considered safe for most people. Nearly all of the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are ingredients found in many foods—fats, sugar, and salts.
None of the COVID-19 vaccines affect or interact with our DNA and the following are not included in the vaccines:
- No preservatives such as thimerosal or mercury or any other preservatives.
- No antibiotics such as sulfonamide or any other antibiotics.
- No medicines or therapeutics such as ivermectin or any other medications.
- No tissues such as aborted fetal cells, gelatin, or any materials from any animal.
- No food proteins such as eggs or egg products, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, nut products, or any nut byproducts. (COVID-19 vaccines are not manufactured in facilities that produce food products).
- No metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, titanium, or rare earth alloys. They also do not have any manufactured products like microelectronics, electrodes, carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures, or nanowire semiconductors.
- No latex. The vial stoppers used to hold the vaccine also do not contain latex.
After the body produces an immune response, it discards all of the vaccine ingredients, just as it would discard any substance that cells no longer need. This process is a part of normal body functioning.
Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a laboratory to teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. The mRNA from the vaccines is broken down within a few days after vaccination and discarded from the body. Learn more about Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccines and booster... or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and booster...
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) viral vector COVID-19 vaccine
Viral vector vaccines use a harmless, modified version of a different virus (a vector virus), and not the virus that causes COVID-19. The vector virus delivers important instructions to our cells on how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19.
Novavax protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine
Protein subunit vaccines contain pieces (proteins) of the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus pieces are the spike protein. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine contains another ingredient called an adjuvant. It helps the immune system respond to that spike protein. After learning how to respond to the spike protein, the immune system will be able to respond quickly to the actual virus spike protein and protect you against COVID-19. Learn more about Novavax vaccines and booster...