According to the CDC, the U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 16 years and older for the prevention of COVID-19. Because the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States will be limited at first, CDC recommends that initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccine be allocated to healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents. The recommendations were made with the following goals in mind: Decrease death and serious disease as much as possible; Preserve functioning of society; and Reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities.

What You Need to Know about the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program

You need 2 doses of the currently available COVID-19 vaccine. A second shot 3 weeks after your first shot is needed to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer. Because the current supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States is limited, CDC recommends that initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccine be offered to healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents. The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as large enough quantities are available.

Once vaccine is widely available, the plan is to have several thousand vaccination providers offering COVID-19 vaccines in doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers. Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost. 

Read more details about the COVID-19 Vaccine on the CDC’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination

The federal government, through Operation Warp Speed, has been working since the pandemic started to make one or more COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible. Although CDC does not have a role in developing COVID-19 vaccines, CDC is working with partners at all levels, including healthcare associations, on flexible COVID-19 vaccination programs that can accommodate different vaccines and scenarios.  

Visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions page for more details.

Adapted from CDC’s Monday, December 14th e-newsletter regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine. Read the e-newsletter >