Frequently Asked Questions from WWII and Korean War Veterans
Can my family get vaccinated at VA?
Yes. Many VA health facilities and clinics now offer COVID-19 vaccines to these groups:
- Spouses and surviving spouses of Veterans
- Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation.
- Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits
How do we know the vaccines work?
Scientists studied COVID-19 vaccines in tens of thousands of people in clinical trials.
The trials included people of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities:
- About 30% of U.S. trial participants were Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Native American.
- About 50% of trial participants were older adults.
Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines work well in these ways:
- Vaccines help protect you from getting COVID-19.
- Even if you get COVID-19, vaccines help protect you from getting seriously ill.
Scientists continue to study these vaccines as millions of people get vaccinated. For example, one study reviewed how well the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines protected health care and other essential workers. These groups are at high risk of infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. The study showed that people had a 90% less risk of infection 2 weeks after they were fully vaccinated.
We’re still learning about how long vaccines protect you from COVID-19. We’re also still learning how well vaccines protect you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Early data shows that vaccines do help keep people with no symptoms from spreading the virus.
Can COVID-19 change my DNA?
No. mRNA vaccines that protect you from COVID-19 don’t alter your DNA. These vaccines work outside of your cell’s nucleus (where your DNA is kept). The vaccines teach your cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. Your cells then break down the mRNA and get rid of it soon after they’ve finished using the instructions.
Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
No. The current COVID-19 vaccines, and the vaccines still in development, use one of these methods:
- An inactivated virus
- A harmless piece of the virus
- A gene from the virus
None of these can cause COVID-19.
Talk to your provider if you have COVID-19 questions
When you get your COVID-19 vaccine, you help protect yourself—and your family, friends, and community. But COVID-19 vaccines are new. It's understandable to have questions about them. We’re here to help you get the information you need. So you can talk with your health care provider and decide what’s right for you.
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VA COVID-19: Updates | Chat | App | Weekly Report | Vaccine
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