FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

A vaccine is a type of medicine that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from the disease.

Vaccines work with your body’s natural defense to build protection. When vaccinated, your immune system is able to:

  • Recognize the invading germ ( e.g. virus or bacteria).
  • Produce antibodies that fight and destroy the germ before you become unwell.
  • It is given as an injection into a muscle (in the upper arm).
  • Two injections of the AstraZeneca vaccine are required.
  • The second injection will be given 8-12 weeks after the first injection.

Side effects are mild to moderate and are temporary. They are signs that the body is building protection against the disease.

Common side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) include:

  • Swelling, tenderness, pain, warmth, itching, or bruising where the injection is given.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue) or generally feeling unwell.
  • Chills or feeling feverish.
  • Headache
  • Feeling sick (nausea)
  • Joint pain or muscle ache
  • Vomiting or diarrhea

 

Side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 persons) may include:

  • Sleepiness for feeling dizzy
  • Decreased appetite
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash
  • Preliminary findings show no indication of harm to the development of the fetus.
  • If you are a health worker at high risk of exposure or have comorbidities that places you in a high-risk group for severe COVID-19. It is recommended that you take the vaccine.
  • Breastfeeding offers substantial health benefits of lactating women and their breastfed child.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends continuing breastfeeding after vaccination.
No, it’s currently recommended that the same product be used for both doses.
The second dose will be given 8-12 weeks after the first.
Your government ID, work ID and vaccination card. Ensure you check the date that is written on your card.
No. The second dose must be the same type as the first.
You should as soon as possible get the second dose. The protection you get for the first dose gets less over time and the immune system needs to second dose to be able to protect us .
There should be a minimum interval of 14 days between administration of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and any other vaccine against other conditions.
You are fully protected 10-14 days after receiving the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Isolate yourself from others. Stay home for the full 14 days until symptoms have disappeared. You may keep your appointment date if it is after you are fully recovered. If you are still ill you will need to reschedule.
We’re still learning about whether it is possible for a vaccinated person to still spread the virus, even without symptoms. Therefore, it is important to continue practicing safety precautions to protect yourself and others, including avoiding crowded spaces, physical distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask properly, covering the nose and mouth.