Good question, because there's a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding out there circulating around.  I've explained this before on here, but I don't want to go looking for it.  The COVID vaccines are, in fact, vaccines.  Let's just get that straight.  They are not going to alter your DNA.  They are not "medical devices".  They act by producing specific antibodies to the "spike" protein on the SARS-Cov-2 virus.  Those antibodies bound to the spike render it unable to replicate, because it can't inject its RNA into the host cell, due to the spike basically being capped.  Eventually the body's immune system gets rid of the "neutered" virus.  The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines do not contain killed or inactivated virus particles.  They have mRNA that is an "exact copy" of the mRNA that produces the spike protein...it's a synthetic copy.  Think of the spike as a needle that the virus uses to inject its own RNA into the host cell.  The mRNA "copies" in the vaccine are coated by a lipid envelope which enables the mRNA to pass through the cell membrane of the cells in our bodies. Once inside the cell, the mRNA is incorporated into the ribosomes of the cells.  Ribosomes are little organelles in most of our cells except red cells and they are the factories for producing protein.  So that vaccine mRNA, once in the ribosomes, produces a protein that is identical to JUST the protein on the virus's spike.  That protein is released.  Your body's immune cells (T and B lymphocytes) immediately recognize this protein is foreign, just like it recognizes killed virus particles of other virus vaccines as foreign.  It begins producing antibodies specifically against that spike protein within a few days.  By 14-21 days the antibodies are at a peak.  If a Covid-19 virus enters the body, the virus basically gets "gelded" at the door.  It's rendered harmless. In effect, you are rendered immune to the virus.....so it's a vaccine. 
Your last question isn't completely settled yet.  Most so-called experts say the vaccine is still a good idea even if you've had COVID.  I'm not convinced it's really necessary.  In my case, I would probably get the vaccine even if I had COVID, because I'm at high risk plus I see COVID patients in the ER.  There's a valid concern out there that people who have had COVID will basically react violently if vaccinated, especially after a second dose.  That hasn't materialized to any significant degree so far.  Another concern is the potential for "long term" complications, as I mentioned earlier.  I think I might have had COVID back in October, but I didn't get tested because I knew I wasn't going to work for 3 weeks.  My symptoms were classic for COVID but only lasted 3 days (I took HCQ).  I went on to get my vaccine a couple months ago, and so far I'm fine.  

Palopony, what's so funny about Roxie's post?  Is that just a reflex on your part, or were you really amused?

Thank you Scott, 

the reason I'm asking is because my Mother and Father In Law and my youngest son (Matthew)and his girlfriend (Stormie)have had the Covid, and they said something about maybe getting the vaccine and that kinda worries me, so I was wondering since my In Laws are in their late 80's and my son is 30 and his girlfriend is 27. I worry since Stormie has not had any children yet, I'm going to ask her to do alot more research befor deciding.. 

You are so awesome to answer this question for the 100th time on here, but I though maybe others would like to know more on this matter too, so I though I would ask you on here for who ever else might like to know more.. Thank you again.. , I promise not to ask any more questions ,(maybe)

I forgot to mention, there are some who recommend that the sensible approach for someone who has had COVID is to only get one dose of the 2 dose vaccines.  I also forgot to mention the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is only a single dose, but it has a 65% efficacy rate, as opposed to 95% of the other two.  That's still a pretty decent efficacy.  Even in good years the flu vaccine is only about 60% efficacious, at best.  The J&J vaccine is a little different than the other two in that it uses a harmless "disabled" adenovirus as a carrier of the code that induces the host cell to produce the same host spike protein.  From that point on the mechanism for creating immunity to COVID-19 is the same.  

You don't have to apologize for asking questions.  I like explaining this stuff.  

My husband had emergency open heart surgery middle of March at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He asked the nurses who worked on him for the 6 days he was in hospital if they took shot.  Most of them said no, heck even one of his heart Doctors said he wouldn't take the shot.  Right now I will not the get the shot.  But each to his own.  Should be a personal choice not made by the government.

Who are these "dumb people" you find so funny?  

Actually, only about half of docs and nurses say they'll get vaccinated.  I'm not surprised since these people are typically quite healthy and not many are over 65, but there are a lot who are taking a wait-and-see approach. About 1/5th say they'll never get it.  

i am not takig it either.  i have never had a fkue shot either. i have never been sick other that uti that went septic sence the late 70.s

i am also aa quad c6c7c5,  i don/t even have allergies or sinus.  so i am not  i am 70 71 this winter. i just don/t see the need since i am

healthy  my son is just like me   he does not get sick

Sure -- simple answer - it is not hateful in the fact that I would want someone to have a bad reaction to it - that's not it at all.  It was more referencing Twisted K and assuming the research they are referring to involves what is in the vaccine and what it actually does to your body long term, and that I hate for anyone.  

what bothers me.....Doctors speaking out about it are censored.  Even jailed.  The side-effects that have been experienced are being censored.  Lonely VA mentioned one study where every subject died at one time, and not sure how they got around that - well,  i know what she is referring to - they just abandoned the study and pushed the V. through anyway.  The deaths from it already are not being reported /being censored.  Why are celebreties faking getting it - why are we getting brainwashed by television scripts writing about - encouraging people to get it immediately.  Therapeutics are not being encouraged -  doctors are being stopped from prescribing them -why. They say people are dying left and right - morgues are filling up - yet the death toll in the US is no more % rise than previous years -- and much lower than in 1950. And morgues were overcrowded because family were waiting for restrictions to lift so they could actually have a funeral.  Why are they blocking truth and pushing the V. The C N N legal analyst died shortly after geting second dose  it wasn't J J. So much more....but I don't just listen to what MSM says....and I also have personal experiences that add to my reservations, as well.  

Media worldwide has been handed scripts.  The same is happening with doctors.  It is turning into socialized medicine.

Do you know if you HAD had a bad reaction (which I am glad you didn't) , you would be censored on other social networks?  A Fbook group of over 70,000 created to discuss side effects (because they think some would want to know) and the entire group was DELETED.

Did you know the first country to get fully V. had ZERO cases?!  What the h*** is going on?

But I don't wish ill on anyone here - you are not strangeers - you are my BHW friends.

My company just announced they (a) will not be requiring anyone to get vaccinated and (b) work from home is still mandatory and the first phase of bringing people back in won't be until the summer and will ONLY be voluntary with NO mandatory vaccinations.

My job was to be WFH even before COVID so that isn't a big deal to me but the vaccination part is.  I was really worried I would be forced and to know that neither me or my husband (a cop) don't have to deal with that right now is a relief.

We have weighed risks/rewards/etc and are more than comfortable with our decision.  BTW, we are in our mid/upper 30's.