What to Expect After Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine: Key Insights and Safety Tips

Can you get COVID-19 from the vaccine? Should you continue wearing a mask? How long does immunity last? We answer these frequently asked questions to help you stay informed.

How Long Does Immunity Last After Vaccination?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer yet. COVID-19 is a relatively new disease, and scientists are still gathering data.

Experts in the United States estimate that vaccines provide protection for at least six months. Russian health officials suggest that immunity from vaccines like Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona, and CoviVac may last between 10 to 12 months, though these claims still require further scientific validation.

Additionally, some uncertainties remain, such as:

• Whether vaccines will effectively protect against emerging coronavirus variants;
• The efficacy of vaccination for individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV or taking immunosuppressive medications.

Despite these unknowns, medical professionals strongly recommend vaccination. Developing immunity through vaccination is far safer than risking severe illness from COVID-19, which can be fatal. Even mild cases can lead to transmission to vulnerable loved ones who may experience more serious complications.

Is It Possible to Get Sick from the Vaccine Itself?

Stories sometimes circulate online about people developing COVID-19 symptoms soon after vaccination and testing positive. However, these accounts are often misleading.

Vaccines can cause side effects, which are outlined in their instructions. Common side effects include:

• Mild fever;
• Pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site;
• Fatigue;
• Headache;
• Muscle pain;
• Chills.

These reactions indicate that your immune system is responding and building protection. They typically appear within the first three days after vaccination and usually resolve within a couple of days.

It is impossible to contract COVID-19 from the vaccine because none contain live virus capable of causing infection.

Cases of COVID-19 occurring shortly after vaccination are most likely due to exposure to the virus before immunity has fully developed, which takes several weeks.

What About Long-Term Side Effects?

There is still limited information on long-term side effects since clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines began less than a year ago. However, vaccines rarely cause lasting adverse effects, and COVID-19 vaccines are expected to follow this pattern.

Does Vaccination Guarantee You Won't Get COVID-19?

Vaccination provides strong protection against COVID-19 in most cases.

However, breakthrough infections can occur, but these cases tend to be much milder. Vaccinated individuals’ immune systems are better prepared to fight the virus, reducing the risk of severe illness.

Statistics show that fully vaccinated people have a significantly lower risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 compared to those unvaccinated.

Is It Safe to Stop Wearing a Mask After Vaccination?

This remains a topic of debate among health experts.

For example, Mayo Clinic experts suggest that after completing vaccination, wearing a mask may not be necessary unless required by local rules or laws.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that vaccinated individuals can forgo masks only in two scenarios:

1. When interacting exclusively with other fully vaccinated people.
2. When meeting with family members living in the same household, provided no one is at high risk (such as elderly relatives or individuals with asthma). In such cases, masks and other precautions should still be followed.

In public settings like stores, public transportation, or gatherings with people from different households, mask-wearing remains essential—even for vaccinated individuals.

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) also advises continued mask use post-vaccination to minimize the risk of unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.

Can Vaccinated People Still Transmit the Virus?

While the likelihood is low, it is not yet fully understood.

Current research is insufficient to conclusively state that vaccinated individuals cannot spread COVID-19. The World Health Organization emphasizes that vaccination should not lead to complacency or increased risk to others.

Therefore, even after vaccination, it is important to remain cautious and protect those around you.

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