Vaccines are the way out of the pandemic, they are the best way to protect people from coronavirus (Covid-19) and have already saved thousands of lives. Vaccinated people are far less likely to get Covid-19 with symptoms and are even more unlikely to get serious Covid-19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it. Vaccinated people are also less likely to pass the virus to others. Because of this, the government has mandated the Covid-19 vaccine for all healthcare workers, including students studying health related courses.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions, and their answers.
The vaccine underwent strict trials to ensure it was safe before being made available. So far 71% of the UK population have taken the vaccine, to protect themselves and their communities from the worst effects of Covid-19, and the majority of them have had little or no reaction.
It's not possible to tell before having the vaccine who will have a reaction, and what sort. Each of us is an individual and our bodies each behave slightly differently.
None of the vaccines developed to protect against Covid-19 contains any live or animal material. The vaccines use different ways to instruct your body how to defeat the Covid-19 virus if it was to come into contact with it.
The Covid-19 vaccine schedule is for most individuals to have 2 doses, 8 weeks apart and then a booster dose 3months after the date of the 2nd dose. This is the same for all the vaccines available in the UK.
Some people develop good immunity to Covid-19 after catching the virus. They might initially have high levels of antibodies in their system which can protect them. However, these antibodies can reduce just as quickly, and leave the person wide-open to possible infection, and unfortunately not everyone will get this good level of protection in the first place.
It is much safer to get the vaccine and develop a strong and steady immunity which lasts.
The most frequent adverse reactions both during the trials and for the millions who have taken the jab were pain at the vaccine injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle soreness, chills, aching joints, and/or a fever.
These were each reported in more than 1 in 10 people and usually got better in a few (about 3-5) days.
Having a reaction to the vaccine might not feel very nice but it doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem.
The best things to do are to drink plenty of fluids, rest lots, take your normal pain relief if you have sore muscles or a headache and let it run its course - just like you would a cold.
The important thing is not to worry - A reaction like this to the vaccine is your body doing it's job and learning to fight Covid-19.
If you have anything more that you are worried about you can always call your GP or 119 to discuss it with them.
Feeling confident about our physical health and being mentally and emotionally relaxed is an important part of our personal wellness, so don't keep any of your concerns to yourself.
Finding good quality information is really important so here are some links that might be useful for you and that we know are from a reputable source.
Covid Vaccine Safety & Side Effects
How was the COVID-19 vaccine made, and how do we know it’s safe? | NHS Video
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