Millions of people have been safely vaccinated against COVID-19 across the world, putting us all one step closer to doing more of the things we enjoy with the people we care for. Many people are eagerly anticipating the COVID-19 vaccinations, but others are understandably concerned about the vaccination process and what to expect when it is their turn.
Before Vaccination:
- Do your Research: Since there is a lot of confusion about vaccinations on the internet, it’s crucial to get your facts from reliable sources like UNICEF and WHO. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about whether or not you can get the COVID-19 vaccine. To prevent any potential side effects, people with the following health conditions should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine at this time:
i. If you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction to any of the COVID-19 vaccine’s ingredients.
ii. If you are sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19 (You can get vaccinated after you recovered from it with your doctor’s approval) - Talk to your doctor: If you have any allergic reaction severely in the past due to any vaccine, or if you have any queries about your current medication, talk to your doctor before your appointment for the vaccine.
- Take care of yourself: Get a good sleep the night before the appointment and also be hydrated. It makes you feel your best on the day of vaccination.
During Vaccination:
- Safety precautions: You should follow all the safety precautions at the vaccination center such as social distancing, wearing a mask, without touching any surfaces unnecessarily, and sanitizing your hands.
- Communicate: Take to the health care professionals in the vaccination center if you have any medical condition that could be considered precautions. For example, pregnancy or having a compromised immune system.
After Vaccination:
- Stay for monitoring: You should stay for about 30 minutes after vaccination so that the health care provider can observe you that you don’t have any immediate reaction. However, it occurs in rare conditions.
- Prepare yourself for certain side effects: Vaccines are intended to provide immunity without the risk of contracting the disease. While it’s possible to develop immunity without experiencing any side effects, it’s also common to have mild-to-moderate side effects that go away on their own after a few days.
Some of the symptoms you may experience after vaccination include:
- Soreness of your arm at the site of injection
- Mild fever
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Joint or muscle pain
- Diarrhea
- Chills
If you symptoms continue for more than a couple of days or if you have severe reaction, contact your doctor immediately.
- Be patient: Immunity development takes time. You will be considered fully vaccinated only after 15 days of your second dose COVID-19 vaccines.
- Keep yourself and others safe: While these vaccines have proven to be highly successful in protecting people from severe COVID-19 disease, further research is needed to determine if a vaccinated person can still transmit the virus even though they have no symptoms.As a result, it’s important to continue taking measures to protect yourself and others, such as avoiding crowded areas, maintaining physical distance, hand washing, and wearing a mask.