• Why get vaccinated?

  Cholera vaccine can prevent cholera.

  Cholera is spread through contaminated food or water. It is not usually spread directly from person to person, but it can be spread through contact with the feces of an infected person. Cholera causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. If it isn’t treated quickly, it can lead to dehydration and even death.

  Cholera is a risk mostly to people traveling to countries where the disease is common (Haiti, and parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific). While it is rare in the United States, cholera has also occurred among people eating raw or undercooked seafood from the Gulf Coast.

  Besides being vaccinated, it is important to be careful about what you eat and drink while traveling and practice good personal hygiene to help prevent waterborne and foodborne diseases, including cholera.

• Cholera vaccine
• Talk with your health care provider
• Risks of a vaccine reaction
• What if there is a serious problem?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Cholera Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is COVID-19 convalescent plasma?

  The blood from people who recover from COVID-19 contains substances called antibodies, which are capable of fighting the virus that causes the illness. For some other diseases caused by respiratory viruses, giving people the liquid portion of blood that contains these antibodies, called plasma, obtained from those who have recovered from the virus, may lead to more rapid improvement of the disease. Patients with COVID-19 may improve faster if they receive plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19, because it may have the ability to fight the virus that causes COVID-19.

• How is COVID-19 convalescent plasma given?
• What are the possible benefits of getting COVID-19 convalescent plasma?
• What are the common and/or possible side effects (risks) of COVID-19 convalescent plasma?
• Who should not get COVID-19 convalescent plasma?
• What if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
• How do I report side effects?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is Comirnaty and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

  Comirnaty is an mRNA vaccine for use in people 12 years of age and older to protect against COVID-19. 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.

  The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine for use in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine under an EUA.

  The 2023-2024 formula is made the same way as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent) and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, but it encodes the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant lineage XBB.1.5 (Omicron XBB.1.5).

  The vaccine may not protect all people who receive the vaccine. It does not contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, it cannot give you COVID-19.

• Who should not get Comirnaty?
• What should I tell my vaccination provider before getting Comirnaty?
• How is the vaccine given?
• What are the possible risks of Comirnaty?
• What are the ingredients in Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech). If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is Spikevax and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

  Spikevax is an mRNA vaccine for use in people 12 years of age and older to protect against COVID-19. 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.

  The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine for use in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine under an EUA.

  The 2023-2024 formula is made the same way as the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent) and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, but it encodes the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant lineage XBB.1.5 (Omicron XBB.1.5).

  The vaccine may not protect all people who receive the vaccine. It does not contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, it cannot give you COVID-19.

• Who should not get Spikevax?
• What should I tell my healthcare provider?
• How is the vaccine given?
• What are the risks of Spikevax?
• What are the ingredients in Spikevax?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA (Moderna). If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• Why get vaccinated?

  COVID-19 vaccine can prevent COVID-19 disease. Vaccination can help reduce the severity of COVID-19 disease if you get sick.

  COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 that spreads easily from person to person. COVID-19 can cause mild to moderate illness lasting only a few days, or severe illness requiring hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help with breathing. COVID-19 can result in death.

  If an infected person has symptoms, they may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.

  • Possible symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue (tiredness), muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
  • More serious symptoms can include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone.

  Older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions (like heart or lung disease or diabetes) are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

• COVID-19 vaccine
• Talk with your health care provider
• Risks of a vaccine reaction
• What if there is a serious problem?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about COVID-19 Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted?

  Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is available under emergency use authorization (EUA) to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 12 years of age and older.

  The vaccine is authorized for emergency use to provide:

  • A two-dose primary series to individuals 12 years of age and older.
  • A first booster dose to the following individuals at least 6 months after completion of primary vaccination with an authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine:
    • Individuals 18 years of age and older for whom an FDA-authorized mRNA bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine is not accessible or clinically appropriate.
    • Individuals 18 years of age and older who elect to receive the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted because they would otherwise not receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  

  Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted contains the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and Matrix-M adjuvant. Adjuvants are incorporated into some vaccines to enhance the immune response of the vaccinated individual. The spike protein in this vaccine is produced in insect cells; the Matrix M-adjuvant contains saponin extracts from the bark of the Soapbark tree that is native to Chile.

• What should you mention to your vaccination provider before you get the vaccine?
• Who should not get the vaccine?
• How is the vaccine given?
• What are the risks of the vaccine?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (Novavax). If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is Twinrix?

  Twinrix is a vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) and hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) in adults 18 years of age and older. It is given to adults who need both hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine.

  HAV and HBV are opportunistic infections (OIs) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems.

• What should I tell my health care provider before receiving Twinrix?
• How is Twinrix given?
• What are the possible side effects of Twinrix?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• Why get vaccinated?

  Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can cause mild illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious, lifelong illness.

  • Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that can lead to fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements), and pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach.
  • Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body. Most people who go on to develop chronic hepatitis B do not have symptoms, but it is still very serious and can lead to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and death. Chronically infected people can spread hepatitis B virus to others, even if they do not feel or look sick themselves.

  Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected through:

  • Birth (if a pregnant person has hepatitis B, their baby can become infected)
  • Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person
  • Contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
  • Sex with an infected partner
  • Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
  • Exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments

  Most people who are vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine are immune for life.

• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Talk with your health care provider
• How is a hepatitis B vaccine given?
• Risks of a vaccine reaction
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Hepatitis B Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• Why get vaccinated?

  MMR vaccine can prevent measles, mumps, and rubella.

  • MEASLES (M) can cause fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash that covers the whole body. It can lead to seizures (often associated with fever), ear infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Rarely, measles can cause brain damage or death.
  • MUMPS (M) can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears. It can lead to deafness, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, very rarely, death.
  • RUBELLA (R) can cause fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and eye irritation. It can cause arthritis in up to half of teenage and adult women. If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.

  Most people who are vaccinated with MMR will be protected for life. Vaccines and high rates of vaccination have made these diseases much less common in the United States.

• MMR vaccine
• Talk with your health care provider
• Risks of a vaccine reaction
• What if there is a serious problem?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella). If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• Why get vaccinated?

  MMRV vaccine can prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

  • MEASLES (M) can cause fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash that covers the whole body. It can lead to seizures (often associated with fever), ear infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Rarely, measles can cause brain damage or death.
  • MUMPS (M) can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears. It can lead to deafness, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, very rarely, death.
  • RUBELLA (R) can cause fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and eye irritation. It can cause arthritis in up to half of teenage and adult women. If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.
  • VARICELLA (V), also called chickenpox, can cause an itchy rash, in addition to fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headache. It can lead to skin infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the blood vessels, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering, and infection of the blood, bones, or joints. Some people who get chickenpox get a painful rash called shingles (also known as herpes zoster) years later.

  Most people who are vaccinated with MMRV will be protected for life. Vaccines and high rates of vaccination have made these diseases much less common in the United States.

• MMRV vaccine
• Talk with your health care provider
• Risks of a vaccine reaction
• What if there is a serious problem?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about MMRV Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella). If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• Why get vaccinated?

  Polio vaccine can prevent polio.

  Polio (or poliomyelitis) is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by poliovirus, which can infect a person’s spinal cord, leading to paralysis.

  Most people infected with poliovirus have no symptoms, and many recover without complications. Some people will experience sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, or stomach pain.

  A smaller group of people will develop more serious symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord:

  • Paresthesia (feeling of pins and needles in the legs),
  • Meningitis (infection of the covering of the spinal cord and/or brain), or
  • Paralysis (can’t move parts of the body) or weakness in the arms, legs, or both.

  Paralysis is the most severe symptom associated with polio because it can lead to permanent disability and death.

  Improvements in limb paralysis can occur, but in some people new muscle pain and weakness may develop 15 to 40 years later. This is called post-polio syndrome.

  Polio has been eliminated from the United States, but it still occurs in other parts of the world. The best way to protect yourself and keep the United States polio-free is to maintain high immunity (protection) in the population against polio through vaccination.

• Polio vaccine
• Talk with your health care provider
• Risks of a reaction
• What if there is a serious problem?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Polio Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is Pediarix?

  PEDIARIX is a vaccine indicated for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus, and poliomyelitis. PEDIARIX is approved for use as a three-dose series in infants born of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative mothers. PEDIARIX may be given as early as 6 weeks of age through 6 years of age (prior to the 7th birthday).

• Who is eligible to get Pediarix?
• Who should NOT get Pediarix?
• May Pediarix be given simultaneously with other vaccines?
• Does Pediarix contain thimerosal?
• What conditions contraindicate Pediarix?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B and Polio Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is tetanus immune globulin (TIG)?

  Tetanus immune globulin is an immune globulin (IgG) rich in IgG antibodies against tetanus toxin. TIG is recommended for tetanus treatment and prophylaxis against tetanus following injury in patients whose tetanus immunization is incomplete or uncertain.

• What is tetanus?
• What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving TIG?
• How will I receive TIG?
• What are the possible side effects of TIG?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Tetanus Immune Globulin. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• Why get vaccinated?

  DTaP vaccine can prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

  Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds.

  • DIPHTHERIA (D) can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death.

  • TETANUS (T) causes painful stiffening of the muscles. Tetanus can lead to serious health problems, including being unable to open the mouth, having trouble swallowing and breathing, or death.
  • PERTUSSIS (aP), also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Pertussis can be extremely serious especially in babies and young children, causing pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, or death. In teens and adults, it can cause weight loss, loss of bladder control, passing out, and rib fractures from severe coughing.
• DTaP vaccine
• Talk with your health care provider
• Risks of a vaccine reaction
• What if there is a serious problem?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What are diphtheria and tetanus (DT) vaccines?

  Vaccines are available that can help prevent diphtheria, an infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria. There are four kinds of vaccines used today to protect against diphtheria, all of which are combined with vaccines for other diseases:

  • Diphtheria and tetanus (DT) vaccines
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines
  • Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines

  Diphtheria vaccination is recommended for all babies, children, teens, and adults. DTaP and DT are given to children younger than 7 years old, while Tdap and Td are given to older children and adults.

  Talk with your or your child’s healthcare professional if you have questions about diphtheria vaccines.

• Who should not get the DT vaccine?
• Why use DT instead of DTaP?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Diphtheria and Tetanus (DT) Vaccine. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.