The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines (shots) available during the current public health emergency using an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) (https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines). 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 FDA’s decision is based on scientific evidence showing the vaccine (shot) is effective to prevent COVID-19 and that the benefits of the product outweigh the  risks. All of these criteria must be met before the vaccine (shot) can be used.