(KERO) — As more coronavirus vaccines roll out, you may be wondering whether to get vaccinated when it becomes available to you.
Especially if you're pregnant, nursing, are immunocompromised or have allergies.
Two coronavirus vaccines currently have the green light in the U.S. The first is Pfizer/Biontech's vaccine, two shots are given 21 days apart. This one is recommended for anyone 16 and older. The second is Moderna's vaccine, again, two shots. This one is given 28 days apart and is recommended for those 18 and older.
Research is still being done to determine whether these vaccines are safe for children and younger teens.
If you're pregnant, you can choose to get the vaccine but Elizabeth Cohen, CNN senior medical correspondent says "You should know that these vaccines were not extensively studied in pregnant women so there is limited safety data to look at for that group. On the other hand, COVID-19 itself poses a risk for pregnant women. The CDC says that some women who contract COVID-19 are at an increased risk of severe illness and might also be at an increased risk for having a pre-term birth."
Both Pfizer and Moderna created mRNA vaccines, which aren't thought to be harmful to a nursing child, according to the CDC.
For those who are immunocompromised, you can choose to get the vaccine, but these vaccines weren't substantially studied for your underlying health condition.
"So there's not enough data on how safe they are or how effective they are yet. On the other hand, getting infected with COVID-19 can be risky for people with compromised immune systems," added Cohen.
For those with allergic reactions, Cohen says "The CDC says you shouldn't get the shot if you're allergic to the components in these vaccines, which you can review on the vaccine product's labels."
