Why are people getting COVID around the time of vaccination?

It takes about two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, before it is fully protecting you from COVID-19. That means it is possible to still get COVID-19 immediately before the first dose, in between doses, or in the two weeks after the second dose (because the vaccine did not have enough time to build protection). 

Until you are fully vaccinated and it has been two weeks since your final dose, you should continue social distancing, wearing a well-fitting mask, and frequently handwashing to decrease your risk of contracting COVID-19. 

Last update: October 8, 2021, 11:15am ET

Science review: SGB, GHH