Is the Covid vaccine safe? Dr Zoe Williams answers jab fears as Oxford rollout begins
IT’S a new year and with it comes a renewed hope that 2021 will be the year we get through the pandemic.
It might feel hard to fathom right now, but we do have a lot to look forward to.
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The next few months will see the roll-out of not one but two Covid vaccines really ramp up a gear – after Oxford University’s jab was given the green light last week.
It is incredible that we have developed, approved and started to carry out vaccinations in less than a year.
But while this is impressive, I do understand why it could cause concern for the public. I have had lots of patients, rightly, asking me plenty of questions about the jab.
What is important is that we recognise the distinction between those people who are “anti-vaxxers” and those people who are just hesitant. Vaccine hesitancy is an appropriate term and in no way a derogatory one.
If you are a bit unsure and have questions, it is only right and important that you ask them. Here are some common ones, with my answers:
IS THE VACCINE SAFE?
THIS is probably the most common question I get asked. And I reply by asking if the person has had a flu jab. That’s because the Covid vaccine has been through all the same safety checks as any other vaccine, including the annual flu jab.
WHAT ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS?
IT’S natural to worry about side effects, and as with any vaccine there may be some mild ones. Like with the flu jab, there have been reports of some people feeling tired, having a slight headache and sore, aching muscles afterwards.
While you might feel a bit rubbish, it’s normal, lasts only a couple of days and is actually a good sign the jab is working.
It doesn’t mean you are seriously infected, it means your immune system is kicking in and is primed to jump at the first sign of a Covid infection.
The vaccine is not recommended for people who have previously had allergic reactions to any of the ingredients in the vaccine, but is deemed safe for the vast majority of people.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can have it if they are an eligible group, but should discuss it first with their healthcare professional.
HOW CAN IT BE SAFE, GIVEN HOW FAST IT WAS DEVELOPED?
IT’S true that while a vaccine typically takes ten years to develop, scientists have come up with the new Covid jabs in just ten months.
These are unprecedented times. Never before have so many of the world’s top scientists and labs focused their efforts on the same goal.
While Sars-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus, experts have been developing vaccines for other coronaviruses and preparing for a pandemic for many years. So in reality, much of the groundwork had already been done.
Combine that with the fact that more money and resources than ever before have been directed at this breakthrough, and it shows what science can do.
The teams working on all the Covid vaccines deserve a huge thanks from us all, and our respect – their dedication will save many millions of lives.
WHAT ABOUT MY NEEDLE PHOBIA?
LOTS of people are scared of needles, even doctors! If you are, it’s worth getting therapy to help.
The NHS’s Help Us, Help You campaign can direct you to the right talking therapies – just ask your GP.
They are not only about anxiety and depression. If you have a phobia like this that is interfering with your health, you can get help. CBT is really good for phobias.
MY ADVICE
THE long and short of it is, I recommend that my patients, friends and family get the vaccine when they are offered it.
I find that for most of those in a high-risk group, it’s a no-brainer. Those who will not be eligible for months are sometimes more reserved, but by the time their opportunity comes along, I expect they will feel more confident.
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This virus is impacting the health of all of us because it’s dangerous in two ways – it’s potentially deadly if you get it, but living through a pandemic is also ruining our lives.
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The World Health Organisation has estimated that, in order to achieve herd immunity, between 60 and 70 per cent of people need to be vaccinated.
Each person vaccinated is a step closer to that goal. This roll-out will make a huge difference. It is our way out of this and a big reason we can all hope 2021 will be brighter.
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