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By Philippa Roxby
Health reporter
The Covid vaccine is being offered to anyone aged 18 and over in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
By 19 July, it’s hoped that all adults will have had their first dose and everyone aged over 40 – and the clinically extremely vulnerable – will have been offered their second.
How can I get a vaccine?
In England, either book online or by calling 119. You can also visit a walk-in clinic without an appointment. Check your local health providers and social media groups for details.
In Scotland, over-18s can now register to get the vaccine on the NHS inform website or by calling 0800 030 8013.
Over-18s can also get their jab without an appointment at all the mass vaccination centres in Lothian. Other health boards are offering drop-in vaccination clinics as well. Check local websites and social media for details.
In Wales, over-18s can get the vaccine.
In Northern Ireland, over-18s can book online or call 0300 200 7813
What gap should be left between doses?
The “sweet spot” is eight weeks between jabs, and any earlier means you won’t be protected for as long, says government scientific advisor Professor Anthony Harnden.
Some vaccination centres have been giving out second doses after four weeks, but the longer the gap, the better your long-term protection.
Will jabs affect my fertility?
Not only is there no evidence that vaccines cause fertility problems in men or women, but experts say there’s no realistic way they could.
Claims to the contrary on social media are false.
The jab involves introducing into the body a harmless fragment of the virus’s genetic material, or the instructions to make it. There is no way it can give you Covid, or affect your DNA in any way.
The only thing happening in your body is your immune system firing up, getting ready to protect you against future encounters with the virus.
In fact, getting coronavirus itself has the potential to affect fertility.
And many women involved in vaccine trials have gone onto conceive.
What if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
A Covid infection can make some women seriously ill in late pregnancy and this can increase the risk of babies being born early. A recent study also found a slightly higher rate of stillbirth in pregnant women who tested positive for the virus around the time of birth.
That’s why the UK’s vaccine committee says pregnant women should be offered a vaccine which protects against Covid.
The vaccine has been given to 120,000 pregnant women in the US. Based on that data, pregnancy experts in the UK have concluded it is safe and effective in preventing Covid-19.
The advice is to have a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, because there is more evidence those are safe for pregnant women. You are encouraged to discuss any questions you might have with your GP or midwife.
If you prefer, you can delay vaccination until after your 12-week scan, but there is no medical reason to do so, beyond your own peace of mind.
If you’re planning a pregnancy or are breastfeeding, you can still have a vaccine, government guidance says.
Does the vaccine affect periods?
Some women say they’ve experienced unusually heavy, painful or prolonged periods after being jabbed but it’s not known if the vaccine was the cause.
There are plausible reasons the vaccine might cause changes to periods. The jab prompts an increase in activity in the immune system, which also plays a role in the menstrual cycle.
These changes might feel unpleasant or worrying, but there is nothing to suggest they can affect your fertility or cause any long-term damage to your health.
Can I drink alcohol after the vaccine?
There is no published data on the effects of alcohol on how well the body builds immunity after the vaccine.
While there’s no evidence to suggest you need to avoid alcohol altogether, drinking in large quantities can suppress your immune system.
So it’s best not to overdo it for a few days, especially if you have vaccine side-effects.
What vaccine will I get and can I choose?
You can’t choose what vaccine you get – it’s based on your age and whatever vaccines are available when you get your jab.
However, if you’re under 40 or pregnant you will be offered Pfizer or Moderna.
What are the side effects and the risk of blood clots?
Most are mild, completely normal and disappear after a few days.
They happen because the body’s defences are reacting to the vaccine, and include:
- a sore arm
- tiredness
- fever
- headache
- feeling sick
People aged under 55 are more likely to get side-effects from Pfizer and Moderna.
With AstraZeneca, side-effects are more common after the first dose than the second.
Under-40s are being offered alternatives to AstraZeneca because of a possible link between the vaccine and extremely rare blood clots in a tiny number of people.
It’s not clear if the vaccine is the cause, but the clots appear to happen slightly more often in younger adults.
For everyone else, the benefits of AZ and the other vaccines far outweigh risks, the UK regulator says.
Remember, 1,900 people in every million have died from Covid in the UK, and blood clots are a common symptom of the disease.
Do I have to have the vaccine?
No. But everyone is being urged to get two doses to protect themselves, their family, friends and wider society.
- have saved more than 27,000 UK lives, according to Public Health England
- help reduce person-to-person virus spread (or transmission), symptoms and serious illness
- help protect against new variants
Without a jab, you may not be able to travel abroad or do certain jobs.
What about people with allergies?
A very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
This can happen with some vaccines. You should discuss any allergies with your healthcare professional.
What if I’ve got long Covid?
A recent study, not yet published, suggests vaccination can help improve long Covid symptoms.
The vaccine could press the body’s reset button and help it recover, researchers say.
What if I hate needles?
When you are jabbed, say you don’t like needles. Then look away.
Many people say the injection is painless and hardly notice anything.
Will children get the jab?
The Pfizer jab has now been approved in the UK for 12-15-year-olds, although it’s not yet been decided whether to widen the vaccination programme to include them.
Older teens, rather than younger ones, are more likely to be infected and pass on the virus, although they’re very unlikely to fall ill.
The argument for vaccinating them would be to keep cases low, keep schools open and protect adults and the vulnerable.
But some say this is unethical with so many at-risk adults still unvaccinated around the world.
Some very vulnerable children with other underlying health conditions might also be offered the vaccine to protect them from Covid-19.
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