Frequently Asked COVID-19 Vaccine Questions - August 2021 Update

Effective vaccines against COVID-19 have been available since December 2020. With the Delta variant circulating around the world, do the vaccines still work? Is one vaccine better than another? Will I need a booster shot? Infectious disease and global health expert Carlos del Rio, MD, of Emory University and Chief Health Officer at University of Michigan Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, answer your questions. 0:00 Introduction 0:06 Vaccines have only been available in the US since December 2020, so how do I know they're safe long-term? 0:39 What is the Delta variant? And should I be worried? 1:47 Are vaccinated people safe from the Delta variant? 2:56 What is a breakthrough infection, and should I be worried? 3:43 Are all breakthrough infections due to the Delta variant or is something else going on? 4:06 Will I need a booster dose later this year or next? 4:39 Should I avoid the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, or the AstraZeneca vaccine? Are some vaccines better than others? 5:56 I had COVID and have long-haul symptoms. Will vaccination help or make them worse? 6:17 How long am I protected? 6:39 What can I do after I'm fully vaccinated? 7:31 Should I be vaccinated if I still need to wear a mask and physically distance afterwards? 8:11 If over half of people are vaccinated, why do I still need to take it? 8:51 I've had a severe reaction to a vaccine before. Is the vaccine safe for me? 9:18 I've heard a lot about bad vaccine reactions, including deaths. What are those? And should I be concerned? 9:49 Can I use over-the-counter painkillers to treat the side effects of vaccination? 10:13 Vaccination during pregnancy. Do we know if the vaccine is safe for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding? 11:07 I'm immunosuppressed. Will the vaccine still protect me? 11:51 Is the vaccine safe for kids over age 12? 12:29 Should I worry about my unvaccinated young children returning to school? 13:29 Will children under the age of 12 be eligible for the COVID vaccine?