Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine

Is There an Approved COVID-19 Vaccine?

Yes, at this time there are approved COVID-19 vaccines. Please see our COVID-19 Vaccine Status section to learn more.

When Will a COVID-19 Vaccine Be Available?

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are either already available or ready to come to market. Vaccination will likely be done in four key phases:

• Phase 1 – High-risk health workers, first responders and individuals with significant higher risk conditions. Older adults living in senior homes may also be included.
• Phase 2 – Elementary, junior and high school teachers and staff, critical workers in high risk settings, individuals with moderate risk conditions, individuals who are homeless or disabled, people in prisons, jails or other close contact facilities, all older individuals not vaccinated as part of Phase 1.
• Phase 3 – Young adults, children, workers in jobs that serve an important function but are not included in Phase 1 or 2.
• Phase 4 – All other persons not included in Phases 1 through 3.

Where Will I Be Able to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine When It Is Available?

Distribution methods for the COVID-19 vaccine are being evaluated and will likely follow a phased approach. When vaccination efforts begin on a more general basis (after Phase 1) more facilities will be offering immunization to the public.

While Passport Health continues to work with health officials to secure COVID-19 vaccines to facilitate this critical public health effort, most of our locations do not yet have vaccines to distribute.

For more information on where to get a COVID-19 vaccination, visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines page or your state health department website.

How Much Will the COVID-19 Vaccine Cost?

Early statements by the U.S. government suggest costs of COVID-19 vaccination will be covered by health insurance providers and/or the government itself. Costs may vary based on type of vaccination, number of doses and state where the vaccine is received.

How Many Doses Is the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Many COVID-19 vaccinations will require more than one dose. This means an individual will be required to return to where they were vaccinated to receive a second dose at a predetermined time. It is recommended that providers schedule this second dose at the time an individual receives the first.

Will I Need a COVID-19 Vaccine for Travel?

Some countries may require COVID-19 vaccination for entry. At this time, testing is the most common requirement for entry. Please see our Domestic Destination COVID-19 Travel Restrictions or International Destination COVID-19 Travel Restrictions pages.

Can (Or Should) I Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19 If I Have Had the Virus?

Yes! COVID-19 re-infection can occur and the CDC recommends everyone, not just those who have not contracted COVID-19, receive the vaccine. Contracting a disease provides a small amount of natural immunity which can be lost quickly. Vaccination often provides long-term immunity to a disease.

How Effective Is the COVID-19 Vaccine?

While each COVID-19 vaccine is different, studies have determined most vaccines to be over 90 percent effective. Long-term studies have not been conducted at this time, but the vaccine is designed to be effective for at least two years after receiving the second dose.

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?

Yes, COVID-19 vaccines go through a battery of trials and tests before they are approved for us. Some mild side effects, which occur with all vaccines, like redness at the injection site or headache can occur.

To help ensure vaccine safety, the CDC has created v-safe a post-vaccination health checker that also provides booster reminders and wellness tracking.

What Is the Status of COVID-19 Vaccines?

There are over 150 COVID-19 vaccines currently in development. Of those, only a few have completed phase 3 trials or are ready for use. This means the vaccines are safe to use, but must protect at least 50 percent of people in their studies. The key immunizations at that are approved for use or will soon be approved for use are:

• Johnson & Johnson / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – Using the same technology they utilized to develop an Ebola vaccine, this immunization is in phase 3 trials and is expected to be available in January. They hope to ensure protection through a single-dose instead of two.
• Moderna / National Institutes of Health – A two dose vaccine, this immunization has a 94.5 percent protection rate. Dose one and two are to be given four weeks apart.
• Pfizer / BioNTech – Given in two doses, three weeks apart, this vaccine provides up to 95 percent protection against COVID-19.

For more information about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination development efforts, see the New York Times’s Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker.

On This Page:
Is There an Approved COVID-19 Vaccine?
When Will a COVID-19 Vaccine Be Available?
Where Will I Be Able to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine When It Is Available?
How Much Will the COVID-19 Vaccine Cost?
How Many Doses Is the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Will I Need a COVID-19 Vaccine for Travel?
Can (Or Should) I Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19 If I Have Had the Virus?
How Effective Is the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
What Is the Status of COVID-19 Vaccine Projects?