COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus, known as SARS-Cov-2. It was first identified in late 2019. It is very infectious and can lead to severe respiratory disease.
Many people who are infected may not have any symptoms or only have mild symptoms. These commonly start with cough, fever, headache and loss of taste or smell.
Some people will feel very tired, have aching muscles, sore throat, diarrhoea and vomiting, fever and confusion. A small number of people then go on to have severe disease which may require hospitalisation or admission to intensive care.
Overall less than 1 in 100 people who are infected will die from COVID-19, but this is closer to 1 in 10 of those over 75 years of age. There is no cure for COVID-19 although some newly tested treatments do help to reduce the risk of complications.
In the UK, we will only use COVID-19 vaccines that meet the required standards of safety and effectiveness. All medicines, including vaccines, are tested for safety and effectiveness before they’re allowed to be used.
Each vaccine was tested in tens of thousands of people in several different countries and shown to be safe and effective. You will be given one of these vaccines depending on which one is available. These vaccines may not have a full UK marketing authorisation (license) yet but will have been authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) based on a full assessment of their safety and effectiveness. The MHRA will only approve a vaccine for supply in the UK if the expected standards of safety, quality and efficacy are met.
The vaccines currently available require two separate doses to provide the best longer-term protection
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent expert group, has recommended that the NHS offers these vaccines first to those at highest risk of catching the infection and of suffering serious complications.
This includes older adults, frontline health and social care workers and those with certain clinical conditions. When more vaccine becomes available, the vaccines will be offered to other people at risk as soon as possible.
Coronavirus can affect anyone. If you are an older adult and have a long-term health condition, COVID-19 can be very serious and in some cases fatal.
Everyone who is in the clinically extremely vulnerable group will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. When you are offered the vaccine may depend on the severity of your condition. Your GP can advise on whether you are eligible.
Some of the people in these groups may be clinically extremely vulnerable and may be offered the vaccine earlier as part of that group.
After these groups, those aged 50-64 will be offered vaccination.
When more vaccine becomes available in 2021 it will be offered to more groups of the population.
The information in the leaflet linked **here** will help you make an informed decision about whether to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Further information on COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding is available from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
There are no data on the safety of the current COVID-19 vaccines in those breastfeeding or on the breastfed infant. Even so, COVID-19 vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant, and the benefits of breastfeeding are well known. Because of this, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that the vaccine can be given whilst breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, you may decide to wait until you have finished breastfeeding and then have the vaccination.
A small number of people cannot have COVID-19 vaccines. This includes people who have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine or to a previous dose of the same vaccine. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction, as an alternative vaccine may be available for you.
If you are currently unwell with a fever, or have had a positive COVID-19 test in the last 28 days you should book a later appointment.
The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. Studies have shown high levels of short-term protection from two to three weeks after a single dose of vaccine, but a second dose is required for longer-term protection.
The vaccines do not contain living organisms, and so are safe for people with disorders of the immune system. These people may not respond so well to the vaccine.
Like all medicines, no vaccine is 100% effective – some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.
Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild and short-term, and not everyone gets them. Even if you do have symptoms after the first dose, you still need to have the second dose.
Very common side effects include:
A mild fever may occur for two to three days after vaccination but a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection. You can take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) and rest to help you feel better. Do not exceed the normal dose. An uncommon side effect is swelling of the local glands.
Symptoms following vaccination normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, look at 111.wales.nhs.uk online, and if necessary call NHS 111 Wales on 111 or your GP surgery. If 111 is not available in your area, call 0845 46 47. Calls to NHS 111 Wales are free from landlines and mobiles. Calls to 0845 46 47 cost 2p per minute plus your telephone provider’s usual access charge.
If you do seek advice from a doctor or nurse, make sure you tell them about your vaccination (show them your vaccination card if possible) so that they can assess you properly.
You can also report suspected side effects to vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card scheme.
Rarely, some people have an allergic reaction soon after a vaccination. This may be a rash or itching affecting part or all of the body. Even more rarely, some people can have a severe reaction soon after vaccination, which causes breathing difficulties and may cause them to collapse. This is called anaphylaxis and can happen with other medicines and food. These reactions are rare and nurses are trained to manage them. People who have an anaphylactic reaction can be successfully treated and usually recover within a few hours.
You cannot catch COVID-19 from the vaccine. But it is possible to have caught COVID-19 and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment.
If you have any of the symptoms above, stay at home and arrange to have a test. If you need more information on symptoms visit https://111.wales.nhs.uk/
You will receive information about when and where to get vaccinated. On the day of your appointment, wear practical clothing so it’s easy to access your upper arm. If you have a fear of needles or feel anxious, let the person giving you your vaccine know. They will be understanding and can support you.
After you have had the first dose, you need to plan to attend your second appointment.
It is important to have both doses of the vaccine to give you the best longer-term protection. Keep your card safe and make sure you attend your next appointment to get your second dose.
If you are acutely unwell with a fever, call to cancel and wait until you have recovered to have the vaccine. You should not attend a vaccine appointment if you are self-isolating or waiting for a COVID-19 test or result.
The vaccine will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. We do not know yet whether it will stop you from catching and passing on the virus. So, it is important you continue to follow the COVID-19 guidance to protect those around you.
COVID-19 is spread through droplets breathed out from the nose or mouth, particularly when speaking or coughing. It can also be picked up by touching your eyes, nose and mouth after contact with contaminated objects and surfaces.
You can find out more information about COVID-19 vaccines, including their contents and possible side effects athttps://111.wales.nhs.uk/coronavirus(2019ncov) and www.gov.uk/government/collections/mhra-guidance-on-coronavirus-covid-19
You can report suspected side effects online at https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or by downloading the Yellow Card app.
To find out how the NHS uses your information, visit www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/lifestylewellbeing/yourinfoyourrights
To order more copies of this leaflet, visit www.publichealthwales.org/HealthInformationResources
DL Leaflet Covid-19 vaccination: A guide for adults (Bilingual)
This leaflet explains about the COVID-19 vaccination, who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from Coronavirus.