COVID-19 vaccine info

Frequently asked questions, benefits and myths

COVID-19 vaccine FAQ

The COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use and is being administered as soon as possible,
starting with the highest risk groups. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the
vaccine.
Question: How can I protect myself now since I have not received the vaccine?
Answer: Continue to cover your mouth AND nose with a mask, avoid close contact with sick
people, maintain 6 feet physical distance from others, and wash your hands frequently.
Question: Do I need to wear a mask after I get vaccinated?
Answer: Based on the latest CDC guidance, facial coverings no longer are required for
most UPSers who are fully vaccinated. The use of facial coverings remains in effect where state and
local regulations or public health standards require their use. For example, the Transportation
Security Administration still requires that masks are worn on airport property. Here are the new UPS
guidelines for the U.S.:
 When working together in the company of other UPSers in closed spaces and vaccine status
is unknown, facial coverings should continue to be used (e.g. group meetings, conference
rooms, trailers, package cars and sort aisles).
 Everyone should continue to social distance when feasible.
 Our facilities should continue to follow enhanced cleaning protocols.
 We will not collect proof of vaccination. We expect UPSers to respect the honor system and
help ensure the safety of our employees, customers and general public.
 UPS urges employees to get vaccinated. Vaccination remains the best way to ensure personal
safety, public health and business continuity.
 
International updates will be provided on a country-by-country basis by each region as local and
national requirements change.

Question: If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to be vaccinated with the
COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: The COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had
COVID-19 infection. You should wait until your illness is resolved (and isolation period passed)
before you are vaccinated.
Question: What is herd immunity?
Answer: Herd immunity is when enough people have protection from either COVID-19 infection or
vaccination that it is unlikely for the virus to spread and cause disease. The percentage of people who
need to have protection in order to achieve herd immunity varies by disease, and experts are still
working to clarify the percentage for COVID-19.
Question: Does immunity from getting COVID-19 last longer than protection from COVID-19
vaccines?
Answer: The experts are still studying immunity durations for natural immunity (from having
COVID-19 infection) and vaccine-induced immunity, and the CDC will keep the public informed as
new information becomes available.
Benefits of taking the COVID-19 vaccine 
In order to make an informed decision about whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine it is
important that you educate yourself with facts. The COVID-19 vaccines:

 Are only authorized or approved if they were carefully evaluated in clinical trials which have
shown that they are safe and make it substantially less likely a person will get COVID-19.
 Have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19.
 Have provided experts with early data from the vaccine’s clinical trials that they believe
show COVID-19 vaccines may also help a person from getting seriously ill should they still
get COVID-19.
 May protect people around you. By taking the vaccine you are lessening your odds of
becoming ill with the virus and spreading the disease to friends, family, and others around
you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Severe illness
from COVID-19 is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as
needing care in a hospital or intensive care unit (ICU), needing to be on a ventilator, or dying
due to COVID-19.
 Are a safer way to help build protection versus gaining short-term (90 days after initial
infection) immunity through becoming ill with the virus. If you become ill with the virus,
COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know
how it will affect you.

Myths regarding the COVID-19 vaccine

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine is not safe as it was rapidly developed and tested.  
Fact: Instead of just one pharmaceutical company, many companies were involved and invested a
great amount of time and funds due to the world-wide pandemic. The faster emergency response
does not mean that companies bypassed safety protocols or had inadequate testing.
Myth: There are severe side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Fact: There are short-term mild or moderate vaccine reactions. During studies, a limited number of
people developed pain or redness at the injection site, and about half developed reactions like
headache, chills, fatigue, muscle pain or fever for a day or two. The side effects indicate that your
immune system is responding to the vaccine.
Myth: More people will die from COVID-19 vaccine side effects than would die from the virus.
Fact: COVID-19’s mortality rate of 1-2% is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu. Mortality can
vary greatly by age, sex, and underlying health conditions. People receiving the COVID-19 vaccine
may have side effects (see MYTH 2), but none considered serious or life threatening.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed to control the general population through microchip
tracking or nano transducers in our brains.
Fact: There is no vaccine microchip, and the vaccine will not track people or personal information.
Myth: You can’t get the COVID-19 vaccine if you’re allergic to eggs.
Fact: The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines do not contain eggs and no eggs were
used in the development or production of the vaccines.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccines will alter my DNA.

Fact: Injecting the mRNA used in some of the COVID-19 vaccines helps the cells in the body learn
how to make a protein to trigger an immune response to COVID-19. It does NOT interact with or do
anything to your cells’ DNA.