Important update: Healthcare facilities
CDC has updated select ways to operate healthcare systems effectively in response to COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more
UPDATE
Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.
UPDATE
The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. More information is available here.

Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work

Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
Updated Sept. 22, 2023

What You Need to Know

  • COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness.
  • Different COVID-19 vaccines may work in our bodies differently but all provide protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • None of the COVID-19 vaccines can give you COVID-19.
  • Bringing new vaccines to the public involves various steps, all which must be followed to ensure they are safe and effective before they are made available for use.

How COVID-19 Vaccines Work

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness.

Woman with bandaid on arm after vaccination

Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection. But with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.

It typically takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes.

Sometimes after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal signs the body is building immunity.

Types of Vaccines: mRNA, and Protein Subunit

Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

There are different types of vaccines.

  • All COVID-19 vaccines prompt our bodies to recognize and help protect us from the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • Currently, there are two types of COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States: mRNA, and protein subunit vaccines.

None of these vaccines can give you COVID-19.

  • Vaccines do not use any live virus.
  • Vaccines cannot cause infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 or other viruses.

They do not affect or interact with our DNA.

  • These vaccines do not enter the nucleus of the cell where our DNA (genetic material) is located, so it cannot change or influence our genes.

mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna)

To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a laboratory to teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. This immune response, which produces antibodies, is what helps protect us from getting sick from that germ in the future.

About Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Research for mRNA technology

Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades.

  • In fact, mRNA vaccines have been studied before for flu, Zika, rabies, and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
  • Beyond vaccines, cancer research has also used mRNA to trigger the immune system to target specific cancer cells.

Protein subunit vaccines (Novavax)

Protein subunit vaccines contain pieces (proteins) of the virus that causes COVID-19. These virus pieces are the spike protein. The vaccine also contains another ingredient called an adjuvant that helps the immune system respond to that spike protein in the future. Once the immune system knows how to respond to the spike protein, the immune system will be able to respond quickly to the actual virus spike protein and protect you against COVID-19.

About Novavax

Research for protein subunit technology

Protein subunit vaccines have been used for years.

  • More than 30 years ago, a hepatitis B vaccine became the first protein subunit vaccine to be approved for use in people in the United States.
  • Another example of other protein subunit vaccines used today include whooping cough vaccines.

Developing COVID-19 Vaccines

While COVID-19 vaccines were developed rapidly, all steps have been taken to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Bringing a new vaccine to the public involves many steps including:

  • vaccine development,
  • clinical trials,
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization or approval,
  • and development and approval of vaccine recommendations through the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC.

As vaccines are distributed outside of clinical trials, monitoring systems are used to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

Learn About Getting Your Vaccine
  • How can you prepare for vaccination?
  • What can you expect during and after your vaccination?
  • Uninsured? You can still get a free COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about CDC’s Bridge Access program.
Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine