Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19
    • Request an Appointment
    • Patient Online Services
    • Pay Bills Online
    • Refer a Patient

    Recent Posts

    • Person with Airpod in ear, salt and pepper hair
      Speaking of Health
      Decompress and stabilize: Understanding types of back surgery
      May 20, 2022
    • Young person on tennis court holding tennis racket
      Speaking of Health
      Is it safe for my kid to take supplements?
      May 19, 2022
    • Gas stove open flame
      Speaking of Health
      Ouch! I've burned my hand on a hot pan — now what?
      May 18, 2022
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Featured Topic
    Thursday, March 11, 2021

    You’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19. Now what?

    Masked woman talking to friend

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for Americans who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. Fully vaccinated people can gather safely in small groups without masks, according to the recommendations.

    "It's important to bear in mind this advice about gathering without masks is limited to gathering in a private setting ― not in public. This guidance doesn't translate as well into the workplace, where the vaccination statuses and high-risk health conditions of co-workers aren't public knowledge," says Melanie Swift, M.D., co-chair of Mayo Clinic's COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation and Distribution Work Group.

    In this Q&A, Dr. Swift answers common questions people may have after being vaccinated for COVID-19.

    How long will each COVID-19 vaccine be effective?

    It's not yet known how long any of the COVID-19 vaccines will last in terms of protecting people from COVID-19. We believe it's at least three months. It's probably a year, but we're going to have to wait and see. These studies are ongoing, and we will get the answer to the question of how long each COVID-19 vaccine works.

    How long does it take to build up immunity to COVID-19 after being vaccinated for COVID-19?

    After you finish your COVID-19 vaccination series, whether it's the two-dose series or the single dose, you need to wait two weeks to get the full benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine. Even then, when you have the full benefit of your COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 is still circulating in the community. There is no widespread immunity yet. Therefore, people still need to wear a mask and practice social distancing for now.

    Why do people who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 still have to wear a mask and practice social distancing while in public?

    It's frustrating that we're not quite there yet, but taking off your mask and letting down your social distancing while in public right now is a little bit like deciding that you don't need to wear your seat belt because you're a good driver. You can't control all of the risks out there, and no COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective. So right now until more of the population is protected, you should not relax those precautions.

    What are the potential side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine?

    A COVID-19 vaccine can cause mild side effects after the first or second dose, including:
    • Pain, redness or swelling where the shot was given
    • Fever
    • Fatigue
    • Headache
    • Muscle pain
    • Chills
    • Joint pain
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Feeling unwell
    • Swollen lymph nodes

    A COVID-19 vaccine can cause side effects similar to signs and symptoms of COVID-19. If you've been exposed to COVID-19 and you develop symptoms more than three days after getting vaccinated or the symptoms last more than two days, self-isolate and get tested.

    Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.


    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Hot topics

    Related Posts

    Reading book sitting on sofa What to do after your COVID-19 test
    Child with arm around parent shoulder Helping kids struggling with the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic
    Gloved hands giving COVID-19 vaccination in bare arm Unvaccinated at highest risk of delta variant infection

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • CaringBridge
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2022 Mayo Clinic Health System