COVID-19 is a serious public health risk. Know the facts, get your vaccine, and help your loved ones get the vaccine.
Vaccines reduce your risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free.
As viruses spread, they change. Some variants emerge and persist. Reducing the spread of infection can slow the emergence of new variants. So get vaccinated, get your booster shot, and continue to wear masks in indoor public places.
Get a vaccine to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. Vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness and death from the coronavirus and the Delta variant. Get a vaccine booster shot as soon as it is recommended for you to increase your protection.
Vaccines are safe and effective. Medical experts carefully tested the vaccines among thousands of adults with diverse backgrounds.
COVID-19 vaccines are free and available to anyone who wants one, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
There are three easy ways to find a nearby location where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine:
Search vaccines.gov (vacunas.gov).
Text your zip code to 438829.
Call 1-800-232-0233.
(TTY 888-720-7489)
Know the facts about COVID-19 vaccines. Accurate vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and rumors.
Review these credible resources from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness.[4]
When we get a vaccine, it activates our immune response. This helps our bodies learn to fight off the virus without the danger of an actual infection. If we are exposed to the virus in the future, our immune system “remembers” how to fight it.
All COVID-19 vaccines, authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, provide significant protection against serious illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19. [5]
Again, it takes time for your body to build immunity after vaccination, so you won’t have full protection until 2 weeks after your final dose.
After getting vaccinated, you might have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects are pain, redness and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea. These side effects could affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines are being held to the same safety standards as other common vaccines. Several expert and independent groups evaluate the safety of vaccines being given to people in the United States. Medical experts carefully tested the vaccines among thousands of adults with diverse backgrounds.
Protect Yourself & Others | PDF Format
Protect Yourself & Others | RTF Format
For the latest information, please visit:
If you live outside the United States, health and safety tips can be found through the World Health Organization and by following your local Red Cross or Red Crescent society’s social media channels.
Directory for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
We are sorry for your loss. Our Virtual Family Assistance Center offers national, state and local information and resources that we hope will help you during this challenging time.
The American Red Cross has an urgent and ongoing need for blood and platelet donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, hospital demand for blood products has significantly increased and patients are relying on the generosity of blood and platelet donors to help ensure hospital shelves are stocked.
The safety of our donors, volunteers and staff remains a top priority. Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows a high standard of safety and infection control. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety protocols here.
Donating blood products is essential to community health and the need for blood products is constant. The Red Cross urgently needs the help of donors and blood drive hosts to ensure blood products are readily available for patients. If you are feeling well, please make an appointment to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Discover a new purpose by joining a lifesaving team to help support blood collections in your community. Two key volunteer opportunities are available:
As a Blood Donor Ambassador volunteer, you will engage donors by greeting, registering, answering questions, providing information, and supporting them through the recovery process at the refreshments table. The special attention you would provide helps create a favorable impression that encourages ongoing donor support.
As a Transportation Specialist volunteer, you will be the critical link between blood donors and blood recipients by delivering blood, platelets or other blood products to a hospital.
Click "Apply Now", then search for “Blood” or “Biomed” in the search bar to find positions.
*Note: Positions will vary based on location.
The Red Cross began working in early March to ensure the continued delivery of our lifesaving mission amid the many challenges presented by this coronavirus outbreak. This report provides an accounting of our activities during the first year under COVID-19.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
