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?
