evidence: Questions About COVID-19 Vaccination [...] Research shows the vaccines can help protect you from getting COVID-19, although fully vaccinated people can get infected. (That’s called a "breakthrough infection.") But more importantly, vaccination has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of getting seriously ill and being hospitalized if you do get COVID-19. Vaccination may also help protect against long-term COVID-19-related illness. [...] Yes. People with cardiovascular risk factors and heart disease, as well as heart attack and stroke survivors should get vaccinated because they are at much greater risk from the virus than they are from the vaccine, according to leaders of the American Heart Association. The AHA urges people with medical conditions to discuss vaccination with their health care team.