How do COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna differ? How, when and where do I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D. (Consumerlab.com)

Two very effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 (caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2) from Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna are available and authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here is what you need to know about them.

Credit: New York Times

KEY POINTS:

• When it becomes available to you, strongly consider getting the vaccine after talking with your doctor — current data shows it can help protect you
  
• The vaccine is free (for now)
  The cost of the vaccine will be covered by Medicare and most insurance plans, some even if received outside your network. However, certain alternative healthcare plans (ex: short-term limited duration insurance) may charge a copay. People who are uninsured can be vaccinated for free. Their healthcare providers will need to submit a reimbursement claim to the Provider Relief Fund.
• You can't get COVID or spread it from the vaccine
  The mRNA vaccines don't contain virus. They instruct your body to make a protein found on the virus that triggers an immune reaction, creating immunity to the virus. The mRNA never enters the cell's nucleus, so it never interacts with or becomes part of your DNA. It also doesn't stick around inside the body — it's broken down once the protein is made.
• It's critical to get the 2nd shot!
  At best, you only get about 52% protection from the first shot but 94% to 95% after the second. Come back about 21 days later for Pfizer and 28 days later for Moderna second doses (it's okay to get it up to 4 days early, and you should still get your second shot if you miss the recommended date, although you'll have less protection during that time). If you get a first shot, use v-safe to set a reminder on a smartphone for when to get second shot, as well as to reports side effects.
• Be prepared for side effects, especially after the 2nd shot
  Injection site pain (typical for any vaccine) and flu-like symptoms are the most common side effects for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. These side effects are typically short-lived and not severe.
• The vaccine takes about 7 days to work after the 2nd shot
  Don't assume you're protected from COVID-19 immediately after receiving the second shot, and certainly not during the 21 to 28 days between the first and second shot.
• Even after being fully vaccinated, for now, continue to follow guidelines for social distancing and wearing masks. 

As each state in the U.S. is in charge of its own vaccine roll out, we've put together the following table to help you get information on what's happening in your state:

Who Can Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 and Where — By State

State Vaccination Website	Information Provided
Alabama https://alabamamedicine.org/coronavirus/physician-resources/	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; vaccine locations and a link to a list of participating pharmacies
Alaska http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/VaccineAvailability.aspx#now	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; when the next phase will begin
Arizona https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/index.php#novel-coronavirus-find-vaccine	The current phase, by county; who's covered in each phase; vaccine locations in each county; links to pre-register for vaccination in some counties and the information you'll need to provide
Arkansas https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-vaccination-plan	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of later phases; a link to a list of participating pharmacies for those who are eligible
California https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/#When-can-I-get-vaccinated	Who's covered in each phase; links to each county's plan and available locations by county; estimated start dates of later phases
Colorado https://covid19.colorado.gov/for-coloradans/vaccine/vaccine-for-coloradans	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of later phases; links to hospital systems' vaccination sites, some of which are allowing pre-registration
Connecticut https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccination---Phases	The current phase; links to eligibility and estimated start dates of later phases
Delaware https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/	The current phase and eligibility; link to allocation plan including all phases and estimated start dates of later phases; phone number for vaccine hotline
District of Columbia https://coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccine	A link to register / schedule an appointment if you are eligible; a link to receive a alert when you can register if you are not yet eligible
Florida https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/covid-19-vaccines-in-florida/	Current eligibility; link to vaccine locations by county with information on how to register
Georgia https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine	The current phase and eligibility; phone number for vaccine hotline
Hawaii https://hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine/	The current phase and eligibility; estimated start dates and eligibility of later phases
Idaho https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/When-can-I-get-a-COVID-vaccine-in-Idaho-12302020-2.pdf	The current phase and eligibility; estimated start dates and eligibility of later phases
Illinois http://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq	The current phase; who's covered in each phase
Indiana https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/	Who's currently eligible; link to vaccination sites by county, which includes links to register
Iowa https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Vaccine/Information-for-the-Public	Phone number for vaccine resource center
Kansas https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/157/Availability	Link to vaccine prioritization plan, which lists vaccination phases and who's covered in each phase
Kentucky https://gscdn.govshare.site/a0f6d8c0872e778a4428d6bf02c51ea2063a0096/Phases%201%20-%204%20(2).pdf	The current phase; who's covered in each phase
Louisiana https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/	The current phase and eligibility; list of locations by parish
Maine https://www.maine.gov/covid19/vaccines	Who's covered in each phase
Maryland https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Marylands-Phased-COVID-19-Vaccine-Distribution_1.8.pdf	Who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of next phases
Massachusetts https://www.mass.gov/info-details/when-can-i-get-the-covid-19-vaccine	Who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of each phase
Michigan https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214_104822---,00.html	Who's covered in current phase; who will be eligible for next phase and the estimated start date; links to local health departments that are scheduling vaccinations
Minnesota https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/vaccine/plan.html	The current phase; who's covered in each phase
Mississippi https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,22816,420,976.html	Current eligibility; online registration; list of vaccine sites
Missouri https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/residents/	The current phase; who's covered in each phase
Montana https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/diseases/coronavirusvaccine	The current phase; who's covered in each phase
Nebraska http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information.aspx	Who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of each phase
Nevada https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/covid-19-vaccine/	Link allowing individuals and employers to express interest in getting the vaccine for themself or their employees
New Hampshire https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/covid19-vaccine-allocation-plan-summary.pdf	Who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of each phase
New Jersey https://covidvaccine.nj.gov/	Form to learn if you're eligible and to pre-register for vaccine
New Mexico https://cv.nmhealth.org/covid-vaccine/	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of each phase; link to register for vaccine
New York https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/	Form to learn if you are eligible; if eligible, site will direct you to a vaccination location
North Carolina https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; list of vaccine locations by county
North Dakota https://www.health.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/COVID%20Vaccine%20Page/COVID-19_Vaccine_Prioritization_Phase1A-C.pdf	Who's covered in each phase
Ohio https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-program	Who's covered in early phases
Oklahoma https://oklahoma.gov/covid19/vaccine-information.html	Who's covered in each phase
Oregon https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/	Who's covered in each phase
Pennsylvania https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Vaccine.aspx	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; links to vaccine locations
Rhode Island https://covid.ri.gov/vaccination	Link to who's covered in phase 1 and their estimated start dates
South Carolina https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine	The current phase; who's covered in each phase; links to vaccine locations
South Dakota https://doh.sd.gov/Covid/Vaccine/Public.aspx	Links to current phase, who's covered in each phase, when each phase is expected to begin, and vaccine locations by county
Tennessee https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-vaccine-information/getting-a-covid-19-vaccine-information.html	Who's covered in each phase; vaccine availability by county; phone number or link to scheduling site for counties with the vaccine
Texas https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx	Who's covered in phase 1; link to vaccine locations by county
Utah https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine-distribution/	Who's currently eligible; who's eligible next and their estimated start dates; contact information for local health departments
Vermont https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/about-covid-19-vaccines-vermont	Who's currently eligible
Virginia https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/	Who's covered in phase 1
Washington https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/VaccinationPhasesInfographic.pdf	Who's covered in each phase; estimated start dates of each phase
West Virginia https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/Vaccine.aspx	Who's currently eligible; link to upcoming vaccination clinics; phone number for vaccine information line
Wisconsin https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-about.htm	Who's covered in phase 1
Wyoming https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/immunization/wyoming-covid-19-vaccine-information/county-covid-19-vaccine-information/	Information by county including when phase 1 individuals may be vaccinated, appointment information, and county health contact information