COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person.
SARS-CoV-2 typically spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, talks, or breathes, it releases droplets. Someone nearby can inhale the droplets into their lungs, or the droplets can land in their eyes, nose, or mouth, infecting them.
Infected droplets also can land on surfaces or objects. When a person touches those surfaces and then touches their nose, mouth, or eyes without washing their hands, this also can cause an infection.
People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are at the greatest risk of infection. However, the COVID-19 vaccine can significantly reduce your risk of infection. The COVID-19 vaccines are effective against COVID-19, especially in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Certain groups of people also are more at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. People more at risk of COVID-19 complications include older adults and people with existing medical conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and more. Unvaccinated people also are at greater risk for severe illness than vaccinated people.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
Symptoms usually appear within 2 to 10 days after exposure. They can range from mild to severe. Some people may experience no symptoms at all.
To prevent the spread of this virus:
Stay home if you are not feeling well. Respiratory viruses spread when we are in close contact with others. Staying home until your fever resolves and you are feeling better will keep those around you safe.
Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated and encourage your family members and loved ones to get vaccinated. To schedule a vaccine, contact a primary care provider or visit UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care locations. It is safe to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at or around the time you receive influenza vaccine.
Masking: Wearing a mask can significantly reduce your risk of being exposed to the virus. If you are not feeling well, and need to be in public (e.g., for a doctor visit), wear a mask to reduce spreading the virus to others. To learn about masking guidelines at UPMC, see information for visitors to UPMC locations.
Other ways you can protect yourself include:
The symptoms of COVID-19 are very similar to infections caused by other common respiratory viruses. If you are at risk of complications of COVID-19 and other respiratory virus infections, talk with your doctor about getting tested. Antiviral medications are available to treat both COVID-19 and influenza and can reduce the risk of serious complications if taken early in the disease. At-home tests are also available for COVID-19 and influenza and may be a convenient option for you. For test coverage information, visit UPMC Health Plan’s COVID-19 coverage for members webpage and select your coverage type from the drop-down menu.
Over-the-counter medications may be helpful to reduce fever, improve congestion, and reduce cough. Drinking lots of fluids is important for treatment too.
To avoid spreading COVID-19, stay at home until your fever goes away (without fever-reducing medications) and you are starting to feel better. This usually takes at least 3 days.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized multiple COVID-19 treatments. UPMC recommends an oral medication called Paxlovid™.
Paxlovid is an oral antiviral medication that must be taken within five (5) days of symptom onset. Paxlovid is available at retail pharmacies and can be prescribed by a medical provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant). If you have low renal function (eGFR < 30 mL/min), you are not eligible for Paxlovid. Your doctor should carefully review your list of medications before you take Paxlovid, as some medications cannot be taken with Paxlovid.
To learn more about this treatment and find out if you are eligible, visit our COVID-19 treatment webpage.
UPMC takes measures to keep patients, visitors, and employees safe inside its facilities.
To learn more about the masking requirements at UPMC facilities, call 833-390-9489 or visit our information for patients and visitors webpage. People with symptoms of a respiratory illness are required to mask at all times to prevent spread.
COVID-19 vaccines are available at UPMC. They are formulated to target current circulating variants and to provide continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.
UPMC offers the Moderna 2026-27 seasonal COVID-19 vaccine. If you prefer Pfizer, please talk with your provider. For children, parents or guardians should speak with their pediatrician or a UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics office for options on scheduling. Children under 5 years old should receive all their doses from the same vaccine manufacturer, if feasible.
In the United States, people age 6 months and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine is free.
After being vaccinated, you may receive a notice electronically or in the mail from your insurance company, called an Explanation of Benefits (EOB), that a charge to give the vaccine was submitted. It is not a bill, and it is not a charge for the vaccine. The government allows your vaccine provider to charge your insurance for the cost of giving/administering the vaccine.
For those who do not have insurance, or if insurance does not cover the fee, you will not be responsible for the fee. If you receive an EOB and would like more information, please contact your health insurer.
UPMC providers offer vaccine appointments regardless of where you received your first dose. For information about scheduling a COVID vaccine, contact a primary care provider or local pharmacy, or visit a UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care location.
UPMC offers the COVID-19 seasonal vaccine. The updated vaccine is authorized and recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Most people aged 5 and older can receive a single dose, at least two months after receiving any previous COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination history affects the number of and timing for recommended doses for children aged 6 months to 4 years. If you have questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine for yourself or your child, be sure to check with your medical provider.
Yes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can get your COVID-19 vaccine without regard to the timing of other vaccines. You can even get the COVID-19 vaccine on the same day as another vaccine.
You should not get the vaccine if you are currently infected with COVID-19, if you have been exposed to COVID-19, or if you have another respiratory illness. If you have symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19, you should not get vaccinated until you meet the CDC’s guidelines for ending isolation. Talk to your provider about rescheduling.
If you have another respiratory illness, talk to your provider about when it is safe for you to receive the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines are effective. They are especially effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged. The vaccines continue to be effective in preventing COVID-19, even with the variants. They are most effective in preventing severe illness from COVID-19, including hospitalizations and deaths.
Yes. The vaccine is safe and effective against COVID-19.
Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the vaccines, they underwent a thorough safety review. All available data from clinical trials and since distribution began report the vaccines are safe. Health officials are continuing to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.
The most common side effects of the vaccines include pain and swelling where you received the shot, fever, chills, fatigue, and headache. These are common for many vaccines because a vaccine triggers an immune response. The side effects should go away within a few days.
There have been some reports of isolated allergic reactions to the vaccine, which scientists are investigating. Allergic reactions to vaccines are not common and are typically mild. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA-based. If you previously had an allergic reaction to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Ask your doctor if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine.If you had an allergic reaction to the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, ask your doctor if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reaction to a vaccine, vaccine component, or injectable medication, you should consult your primary care physician or allergist before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have allergies that don’t relate to vaccines or injectable medicines, the CDC recommends you get the COVID-19 vaccine.
No.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. mRNA is genetic material our body naturally makes, and in this vaccine, this tiny piece of genetic material teaches our cells how to make a virus protein that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what helps to protect us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies. The mRNA and protein quickly disappear after they have taught our body to respond to the virus.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccines and mRNA, read our article.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to become pregnant now, or who may become pregnant in the future. Pregnant women are at higher risk for COVID-19 complications, including severe illness, so vaccination is a key preventive step. The benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) also recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women.
No.
Despite online rumors that the COVID-19 vaccine can affect fertility, this is not true. The COVID-19 vaccine has no impact on fertility in men or women.
Like any vaccine, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is your personal choice. You can choose to get it or not when it becomes available to you. However, getting the vaccine can protect both you and the people around you, including our most vulnerable individuals. The vaccine is a crucial step to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
The following people should not get the vaccine:
People with a history of certain health conditions should talk to their doctor before scheduling their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
