Yes, the vaccine is safe for people living with HIV. We recommend that everyone with HIV get the vaccine because of a higher risk of complications from COVID-19.

Only vaccines that meet standards for safety and efficacy are approved for emergency use by the FDA. All COVID vaccines that are approved have been tested in thousands of participants to make sure that they are safe.

Participants in the clinical trials came from diverse backgrounds and included adults across all ages, including those over 65 years of age. Further, participants came from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds including Black and Latinx participants. This ensured that the vaccine was safe and effective for the general public.

The currently approved vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, both need two shots to be effective. The Pfizer doses are given 3 weeks apart, and the Moderna doses are given 4 weeks apart.

Common side effects of the vaccine include pain or redness at the injection site. Some people may also experience fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, and/or fever. These side effects usually resolve within 2-4 days after vaccination.

Severe allergic reactions are very rare and all the vaccines are being administered in health centers so that if there is a severe reaction, appropriate help is available.

Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to other vaccines should discuss with their doctor if it is safe for them to receive this vaccination.

No. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine and it will not produce a positive COVID-19 nasal swab result. None of the components of the vaccine contain intact virus.

We do not know the answer to this question yet. We will be able to better understand this as time goes on.

We do not know the answer to this question yet. It will depend on how long the vaccine’s effective protection lasts. We will be able to better understand this in the future.

Yes. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, and staying at least 6 feet away from others. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision.

Yes. You may have developed protective antibodies after your infection but we would not know by how much, how protective it was, or for how long it would last. You may be still at risk for re-infection with COVID-19 and so it is still recommended that you get the vaccine.

It is recommended to wait about 90 days before you are vaccinated.

There is no data to inform when the second dose of the vaccine should be given. However, the second dose of the vaccine will likely be delayed and you should speak to your doctor about the best timing of the second dose of the vaccine.  

If you have any other questions that are not listed here, please contact us at IDP@njms.rutgers.edu.