[Originally published on April 12, 2021; Updated on April 13, 2021]

National Minority Health Month, NMHM, lands in April each year. The 30 days within it are designed to raise awareness about health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority populations and encourage action through health education.

It’s only fitting that the theme for NMHM 2021 is #VaccineReady. The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted minority communities, underscoring the need for those vulnerable to get vaccinated. The two COVID-19 available vaccines are an important tool to help one another get back together with families, friends, schools and workplaces safely.

This month, get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines, plus safety measures that are still vital to help stop the spread among those waiting to be vaccinated.

A good place to start is understanding and comparing the two COVID-19 vaccines being offered.

• Pfizer: This was the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized for population use. It is verified for anyone 16 years of age and older and is two shots given 21 days apart. Common side effects include chills, headache, pain, tiredness and/or redness/swelling at the injection site. Studies show it has 95% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection.
• Moderna: This was the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized for population use. It is verified for anyone 18 years of age and older and is two shots given 28 days apart. Similar to the Pfizer vaccine, common side effects include chills, headache, pain, tiredness and/or redness/swelling at the injection site. Studies show it has 94.1% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection.

Do your research on which you feel is right for your health. Until you are fully vaccinated, it is still important to take preventative measures to protect yourself and others around you. Be sure to wear a mask, stay at least six feet apart from those who don’t live in your household and avoid crowds. 

NMHM 2021 reminds us that the COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us get back to normal and bring this pandemic to an end.

Keep updated on more vaccination information this week with a COVID-19 Vaccine: Myths vs. Facts interactive Tuesday, vaccination video Wednesday and a note from a tribal community member Friday.