ABOUT CORONAVIRUS VACCINES’ SAFETY
QUESTION: How do we know that Covid-19 vaccines are safe? ANSWER: There are strict protections in place to help ensure the safety of all Covid-19 vaccines. Before receiving validation from WHO and national regulatory agencies, Covid-19 vaccines must undergo rigorous testing in clinical trials to prove that they meet internationally agreed benchmarks for safety and effectiveness.
Unprecedented scientific collaborations have allowed Covid-19 vaccine research, development, and authorizations to be completed in record time - to meet the urgent need for Covid19 vaccines while maintaining high safety standards. As with all vaccines, WHO and regulatory authorities will continuously monitor the use of Covid-19 vaccines to confirm that they remain safe for all who receive them.
Q: What are the side effects of Covid-19 vaccines?
A: Like any vaccine, Covid-19 vaccines can cause mild side effects, such as a low-grade fever or pain or redness at the injection site. Most reactions to vaccines are mild and go away within a few days on their own. More serious or long-lasting side effects to vaccines are possible but extremely rare. Vaccines are continually monitored to detect rare adverse events.
Reported side effects to Covid-19 vaccines have mostly been mild to moderate and short-lasting. They include: fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, diarrhoea, and pain at the injection site. The chances of any of these side effects following vaccination differ according to the specific Covid-19 vaccine.
Q: What is the link between Covid-19 vaccines and allergic reactions?
A: WHO is aware of reports of severe allergic reactions in a small number of people who received a Covid-19 vaccine. A severe allergic reaction - such as anaphylaxis - is a potential but rare side effect with any vaccine. In persons with a known risk, such as previous experience of an allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of the known components in the vaccine, precautions may need to be taken.
WHO recommends that healthcare providers assess patient medical history to determine if a patient is at risk for severe allergic reaction to a Covid-19 vaccine. All immunisation providers should be trained to recognise severe allergic reactions and take practical steps to treat such reactions if they occur.
Covid-19 vaccine use will be closely monitored by national authorities and international bodies, including WHO, to detect serious side effects, including any unexpected side effects. This will help us better understand and manage the specific risks of allergic reactions or other serious side effects to Covid19
vaccines that may not have been detected during clinical trials, ensuring safe vaccination for all.
Q: Is it possible that someone vaccinated against Covid-19 will still get infected?
A: While several Covid-19 vaccines appear to have high levels of efficacy, no vaccine is 100 percent protective. As a result, there may be a small percentage of people who do not develop protection as expected after Covid-19 vaccination.
In addition to a vaccine’s specific characteristics, several factors such as a person’s age, their underlying health conditions or previous exposure to Covid-19 may have an impact on a vaccine’s effectiveness. We also do not yet know how long immunity from different Covid-19 vaccines will last. That is one reason why, even as Covid19 vaccines start to be rolled out, we must continue using all public health measures that work, such as physical distancing, masks, and handwashing.
Q: Who should be excluded from
receiving Covid-19 vaccines?
A: Medical professionals can best advise individuals on whether or not they should receive a Covid-19 vaccine. However, based on available evidence, people with the following health conditions should generally be excluded from Covid-19 vaccination in order to avoid possible adverse effects:
** If you have a history of severe allergic reactions to any ingredients of the Covid-19 vaccine
** If you are currently sick or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, though you can get vaccinated once your primary symptoms have resolved.
Further research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of different Covid-19 vaccines in certain population groups. In addition to the general recommendations above, each vaccine may have specific considerations for specific populations and health conditions.
Q: Is it safe for pregnant women, those planning to become pregnant, and breastfeeding mothers to receive
Covid-19 vaccines?
A: Based on what we know about these vaccines, we don’t have any specific reason to believe there will be risks that would outweigh the benefits of vaccination for pregnant women. While pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe Covid-19, very little data are available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy.
For this reason, those pregnant women at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (e.g., health workers) or who have comorbidities which add to their risk of severe disease may be vaccinated in consultation with their health care provider.
It is not yet clear whether Covid19 vaccines can be excreted through breastfeeding. To determine the best course of action, the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for immunization against Covid-19. WHO does not recommend discontinuing breastfeeding after vaccination.