PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION (EUA) TO PREVENT CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 IN INDIVIDUALS 12 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER
You are being offered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to prevent Coronavirus
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2. This Fact Sheet contains
information to help you understand the risks and benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine, which you may receive because there is currently a pandemic of
COVID-19.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is a vaccine and may prevent you from getting
COVID-19. There is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccine to
prevent COVID-19.
Read this Fact Sheet for information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
Talk to the vaccination provider if you have questions. It is your choice to receive the
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is administered as a 2-dose series, 3 weeks
apart, into the muscle.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect everyone.
This Fact Sheet may have been updated. For the most recent Fact Sheet, please see
www.cvdvaccine.com.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GET THIS VACCINE:
WHAT IS COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. This type of coronavirus has not been seen before. You can get COVID-19 through contact with another person who has the virus. It is predominantly a respiratory illness that can affect other organs. People with COVID19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include: fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.
WHAT IS THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is an unapproved vaccine that may prevent
COVID-19. There is no FDA-approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 12 years of age and older under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). For more information on EUA, see the “What is an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?” section at the end of this Fact Sheet.
WHAT SHOULD YOU MENTION TO YOUR VACCINATION PROVIDER BEFORE
YOU GET THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
Tell your vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
• have any allergies
• have had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis
(inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
• have a fever
• have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
• are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding
• have received another COVID-19 vaccine
• have ever fainted in association with an injection
WHO SHOULD GET THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
FDA has authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in
individuals 12 years of age and older.
WHO SHOULD NOT GET THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
You should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine if you:
• had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine
• had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine.
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine includes the following ingredients: mRNA,
lipids ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate), 2
[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-
phosphocholine, and cholesterol), potassium chloride, monobasic potassium
phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, and sucrose.
HOW IS THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE GIVEN?
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine will be given to you as an injection into the
muscle. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine vaccination series is 2 doses given 3 weeks apart. If you receive one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, you should receive a second dose of this same vaccine 3 weeks later to complete the vaccination series.
HAS THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE BEEN USED BEFORE?
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is an unapproved vaccine. In clinical trials,
approximately 23,000 individuals 12 years of age and older have received at least
1 dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
In an ongoing clinical trial, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been shown to
prevent COVID-19 following 2 doses given 3 weeks apart. The duration of protection
against COVID-19 is currently unknown.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
There is a remote chance that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine could cause a
severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few
minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you
received your vaccine for monitoring after vaccination. Signs of a severe allergic
reaction can include:
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face and throat
• A fast heartbeat
• A bad rash all over your body
• Dizziness and weakness
Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the
lining outside the heart) have occurred in some people who have received the
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. In most of these people, symptoms began within a few days following receipt of the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine. The chance of having this occur is very low. You should seek medical
attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms after receiving the
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine:
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart
Side effects that have been reported with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
include:
• severe allergic reactions
• non-severe allergic reactions such as rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face
• myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
• pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
• injection site pain
• tiredness
• headache
• muscle pain
• chills
• joint pain
• fever
• injection site swelling
• injection site redness
• nausea
• feeling unwell
• swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• arm pain
These may not be all the possible side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine. Serious and unexpected side effects may occur. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials.
WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?
If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital.
Call the vaccination provider or your healthcare provider if you have any side effects
that bother you or do not go away. Report vaccine side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967 or report online to https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. Please include “Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA” in the first line of box #18 of the report form. In addition, you can report side effects to Pfizer Inc. at the contact information provided below. Website Fax number Telephone number
www.pfizersafetyreporting.com 1-866-635-8337 1-800-438-1985
You may also be given an option to enroll in v-safe. V-safe is a new voluntary
smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with
people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after COVID-19
vaccination. V-safe asks questions that help CDC monitor the safety of COVID-19
vaccines. V-safe also provides second-dose reminders if needed and live telephone
follow-up by CDC if participants report a significant health impact following COVID-19
vaccination. For more information on how to sign up, visit: www.cdc.gov/vsafe.
WHAT IF I DECIDE NOT TO GET THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
It is your choice to receive or not receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
Should you decide not to receive it, it will not change your standard medical care.
ARE OTHER CHOICES AVAILABLE FOR PREVENTING COVID-19 BESIDES PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE?
Currently, there is no approved alternative vaccine available for prevention of COVID-19. Other vaccines to prevent COVID-19 may be available under Emergency Use
Authorization.
CAN I RECEIVE THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE WITH OTHER
VACCINES?
There is no information on the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine with
other vaccines.
WHAT IF I AM PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss your options with your healthcare
provider.
WILL THE PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE GIVE ME COVID-19?
No. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine does not contain SARS-CoV-2 and
cannot give you COVID-19.
KEEP YOUR VACCINATION CARD
When you get your first dose, you will get a vaccination card to show you when to
return for your second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Remember to bring
your card when you return.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have questions, visit the website or call the telephone number provided below:
www.cvdvaccine.com or 1-877-829-2619 (1-877-VAX-CO19)
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?
• Ask the vaccination provider
• Visit CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Visit FDA at https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legalregulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization
• Contact your state or local public health department
WHERE WILL MY VACCINATION INFORMATION BE RECORDED?
The vaccination provider may include your vaccination information in your state/local jurisdiction’s Immunization Information System (IIS) or other designated system. This will ensure that you receive the same vaccine when you return for the second dose. For more information about IISs, visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/iis/about.html.
WHAT IS THE COUNTERMEASURES INJURY COMPENSATION PROGRAM?
The Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) is a federal program that may help pay for costs of medical care and other specific expenses of certain people who have been seriously injured by certain medicines or vaccines, including this vaccine. Generally, a claim must be submitted to the CICP within one (1) year from the date of receiving the vaccine. To learn more about this program, visit www.hrsa.gov/cicp/ or call 1-855-266-2427.
WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION (EUA)?
The United States FDA has made the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine available
under an emergency access mechanism called an EUA. The EUA is supported by a
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) declaration that circumstances exist to justify the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19
pandemic.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has not undergone the same type of review as
an FDA-approved or cleared product. FDA may issue an EUA when certain criteria are
met, which includes that there are no adequate, approved, available alternatives. In addition, the FDA decision is based on the totality of scientific evidence available
showing that the product may be effective to prevent COVID-19 during the COVID-19
pandemic and that the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product. All of these criteria must be met to allow for the product to be used in the treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is in effect for the duration of the
COVID-19 EUA declaration justifying emergency use of these products, unless
terminated or revoked (after which the products may no longer be used).
Manufactured by
Pfizer Inc., New York, NY 10017
Manufactured for
BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH
An der Goldgrube 12
55131 Mainz, Germany
Revised: 06/2021