How does the vaccine work?
Do I have to wear a mask once I'm vaccinated? Do I need to get tested weekly still?
- Once you are vaccinated, you can still get the virus, but you will have mild to no symptoms. However, there is still a risk that you could transmit the virus to someone who has not been vaccinated and they could get very sick. Per current College policy, all individuals are required to mask indoors. Individuals are encouraged to wear their masks outdoors in instances where social distance is not feasible
- Once the majority of people are vaccinated, life will be able to return to more normal conditions as determined by health and government authorities.
When will I be eligible for the vaccine?
Please refer to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website for information on when you will become eligible for the vaccine. For Connecticut residents, please visit the Connecticut State website for more information.
Learn more about vaccine equity and hesitancy through some of these resources:
- Early State Vaccination Data Raise Warning Flags for Racial Equity
- How the Wealthy Are Maneuvering to Get the Vaccine First
- Confronting COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Nonelderly Adults
What are possible common side effects after getting the vaccine?
- Common side effects include pain and swelling at the vaccine site, fever, chills, tiredness, and headaches.
- These side effects can affect your ability to do daily activities but should go away within a few days.
- You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for any pain and discomfort you may have.
- These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection!
How does herd immunity work?
How does the vaccine affect fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding?
- If you are pregnant, you should speak with your healthcare provider to discuss your options for vaccination.
- If you are breastfeeding, you may choose to be vaccinated especially if you are in a high-risk category. There is no evidence that mRNA vaccines are excreted through breast milk but you should speak with your healthcare provider for more information.
- What if you want to get pregnant someday? Experts believe that the COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to pose a risk to a person trying to become pregnant in the short or long term.
Do the News SARS-CoV-2 Variants Affect Vaccine Efficacy?
So far, the new variants seem to increase the ability of COVID-19 to spread but do not influence how sick someone gets from the disease. The current vaccines appear to work against the new variants. When vaccines are created, they are designed to create many different antibodies to differing parts of the virus so that even if one part of the virus mutates, the antibodies may recognize another part of the virus. It is possible that there will be a variant that reduces vaccine efficacy, and the companies that make vaccines are creating new ones that should work against new strains of SARS-CoV-2. (Journal of the American Medical Association)
Resources from the Center for Disease Control
What's the difference between the vaccines? Is one better than the other? What else should I know about the vaccines?
Key Things to Know About Vaccines
Why should I get the vaccine?
Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
If I had COVID-19, should I still get the vaccine, and other commonly asked questions:
Other Resources
THE CONVERSATION: Between Us, About Us kicks off with an open and honest conversation between W. Kamau Bell and Black doctors, nurses and researchers that gets to the heart of Black people’s questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. This new campaign from KFF’s Greater Than COVID and the Black Coalition Against COVID launches with 50 FAQs designed to dispel misinformation and provide accessible facts about the vaccines from Black health care workers. View their video below:
