COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), discovered in 2019.

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, nose, or mouth. Some people who are infected may not have symptoms but can still spread the virus.

According to the CDC, possible symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• ​Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue​
• Muscle or body aches​
• Headache
• ​New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea​

Symptoms can be mild to severe and may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC has a list of steps you should take if you suspect you've been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. You can find them here. Continue to take CDC-recommended steps even if you do not have symptoms but were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.​

The CDC has identified certain factors that can increase one's risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. They include:

Age 50 years or older
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver disease
Chronic lung diseases
Cystic fibrosis
Dementia or other neurological conditions
Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
Disabilities
Heart conditions
HIV infection
Immunocompromised condition or weakened immune system
Mental health conditions
Obesity or being overweight
Physical inactivity
Pregnancy or recent pregnancy
Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
Smoking, current or former
Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
Substance use disorders
Tuberculosis

The list above does not include all possible conditions that put you at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. The conditions on this list are in alphabetical order. They are not in order of risk. People with certain risk factors have an increased chance of getting very sick from COVID-19. Understanding your COVID-19 risk can assist you in making decisions about how to help protect yourself and those you take care of. Take this list with you to review with your doctor at your next appointment.

Visit CDC.gov to learn more. By clicking this link, you will be redirected to a third-party website that is neither owned nor controlled by Pfizer. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of this site.

According to the CDC, people can be immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) due to a medical condition or from taking immunosuppressive medications or treatments.​

Some people who are immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) are more likely to get sick with COVID-19 or be sick for a longer period.

There are many ways you can schedule an appointment! Call a local doctor’s office, pharmacy, or the CDC COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-232-0233.​

You can also find an appointment for one of our vaccine options here.​

During the development of the original mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, over 1/3 of the trial’s voluntary participants came from racial and ethnic minority groups.

CDC recommends the 2023–2024 Formula updated COVID-19 vaccines for eligible individuals 6 months of age and older. These vaccines more closely target the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant and could help restore protection against COVID-19, including against serious illness, that may have decreased over time.

As with other vaccine-preventable diseases, you are best protected from COVID-19 when you stay up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations.

Tell your vaccination provider about all of your or your child’s medical conditions, including if you or your child:

• has any allergies
• had a severe allergic reaction after receiving a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• has had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
• has a fever​
• has a bleeding disorder or is on a blood thinner​
• is immunocompromised or is on a medicine that affects the immune system
• is pregnant, plans to become pregnant, or is breastfeeding
• has received another COVID‑19 vaccine
• has ever fainted in association with an injection

COVID-19 vaccination side effects can vary from person to person and across age groups. Possible serious side effects may include severe allergic reactions and inflammation of the heart muscle or outer lining of the heart. Common side effects include pain, redness, and swelling in the vaccinated arm. Additionally, some people may experience fever, chills, fatigue (tiredness), headache, muscle aches, and nausea. Contact your healthcare provider if you have a sore arm that worsens in 24 hours, if you experience any concerning side effects, or if your side effects don’t resolve after a few days.

Make sure you discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider prior to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. To learn more, visit the CDC website or call the CDC COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-232-0233.

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) have rarely been reported. When reported, the cases have especially been among adolescent and young adult males within several days after their COVID-19 vaccination.

Here are some more details on the cases reported:

• Happens more often after the second dose
• Usually occurs within a week of vaccination
• Most patients with myocarditis or pericarditis who received care responded well to medicine and rest and felt better quickly
• Patients can usually return to their normal daily activities after their symptoms improve​
• Those who are diagnosed with myocarditis should consult with their cardiologist (heart doctor) about a return to exercise or sports​

Seek medical care if you or your child have any of the specific or general symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis, especially if it’s within a week after COVID-19 vaccination.

Severe allergic reactions to vaccines are rare but can happen. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include difficulty breathing or wheezing, a drop in blood pressure, swelling of the tongue or throat, or generalized rash or hives. If you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, seek immediate medical care by calling 911.

Make sure you discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider prior to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. To learn more, visit the CDC website or call the CDC COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-232-0233.

Side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine can vary from person to person. Some people experience a little discomfort and can continue to go about their day. Others have side effects that affect their ability to do daily activities. Side effects generally go away in a few days and tend to be mild and temporary, like those experienced after routine vaccinations. Even if you don’t experience any side effects, your body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Call a doctor or healthcare provider about a side effect if:

• Redness or tenderness where the shot was given gets worse after 24 hours
• Side effects are worrying or do not seem to be going away after a few days
• After leaving a vaccination provider site, if you think you or your child might be having a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care by calling 911

The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for eligible individuals 6 months of age and older.

The COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as the vaccines given to adults. However, children receive a smaller and more age-appropriate dose that is right for them. The smaller doses were rigorously tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group, making it important for your child to get the vaccine made for their age group.​

Ask your child’s healthcare provider for advice on using a non-aspirin pain-reliever and learn about other steps you can take at home to comfort your child after vaccination. It is not recommended to take pain-reliever medicines before vaccination to try to prevent side effects as it is not known how over-the-counter medicines might affect how well the vaccine works.

Here are some common side effects for certain pediatric age ranges:

6 months-3 years:

• Pain in the leg or arm where the shot was given
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Irritability or crying
• Sleepiness
• Loss of appetite

4-17 years:

Side effects are more common after additional doses and can include:

• Pain, swelling, and redness in the arm where the shot was given
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Chills
• Swollen lymph nodes

Call a doctor or healthcare provider about a side effect if:

• Redness or tenderness where the shot was given gets worse after 24 hours
• Side effects are worrying or do not seem to be going away after a few days
• After leaving a vaccination provider site, if you think your child might be having a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care by calling 911

Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID, post-COVID conditions (PCC), post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or chronic COVID. Long COVID is broadly defined as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after initial COVID-19 infection. This definition of Long COVID was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in collaboration with the CDC and other partners.

For people who are eligible, the CDC recommends staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination, along with improving ventilation, getting tested for COVID-19 if needed, and seeking treatment for COVID-19 if eligible. Additional preventive measures include avoiding close contact with people who have a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 illness and washing hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.​

According to the CDC, some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID. Long COVID includes a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience 4 or more weeks after being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some people are at higher risk for Long COVID. Researchers are still working to determine exactly who is likely to experience Long COVID. So far, studies have shown that some groups may be at a higher risk.

The following groups may be at a higher risk:

• People who had more severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care
• People who had underlying health conditions prior to getting COVID-19
• People who did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine
• People who experienced multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) during or after COVID-19 illness

This is not a comprehensive list.

People with Long COVID can have a wide range of symptoms that can last weeks, months, or even years after infection. Long COVID may not affect everyone the same way. People with Long COVID may experience health problems from different symptoms or combinations of symptoms happening over different lengths of time. People who experience Long COVID most commonly report:

• General symptoms
  • Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
  • Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
  • Fever

• Respiratory and heart symptoms
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Chest pain
  • Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)

• Neurological symptoms
  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
  • Headache
  • Sleep problems
  • Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
  • Pins-and-needles feelings
  • Change in smell or taste
  • Depression or anxiety

• Digestive symptoms
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain

• Other symptoms
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Rash
  • Changes in menstrual cycles