With COVID-19 vaccines becoming more available, you may have already familiarized yourself with the short-term side effects of these vaccines. But what about long-term side effects of the new COVID-19 vaccines?

The reality is that these vaccines haven't yet been studied for the long-term, so it's too soon to answer if any unknown risks may exist.

Dr. H. Dirk Sostman, president of the Academic Institute at Houston Methodist, sheds some important light on what we do know about vaccine safety, however:

"There's certainly nothing in the technology or the clinical experience to-date that suggests any risk or reason for long-term side effects," explains Dr. Sostman.

In the meantime, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines — which are both more than 90% effective — are a welcome milestone during a pandemic that's taken more than 360,000 American lives in just 11 months.

Sign up for your COVID-19 vaccine:

All individuals age 5 and older are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.

• Schedule your vaccine appointment online today

This article was updated on November 8, 2021 to reflect the current state of the COVID-19 vaccine landscape.