An Introduction to COVID-19 Vaccines

When we get sick with a virus our immune system develops antibodies to fight it off. These antibodies remain in our bodies and can recognize the virus again and kill it faster if we are ever reinfected. But getting sick with a virus is not the only way to develop immunity. Watch this video to see how vaccines train our body to fight future infection 💪🏽.

Vaccines can show our body what the virus looks like without getting us sick. They safely train our immune system to protect us from viruses like COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists around the world worked to develop vaccines that will target and block the virus that causes COVID-19. Thus, the vaccine is an essential tool to stop the pandemic.

There are several kinds of COVID-19 vaccines that have been widely tested to make sure they are safe and effective for protecting us against COVID-19. The vaccines use either mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna), vectors (AstraZeneca and J&J), or proteins. While vector vaccines are only one dose, mRNA vaccines require two shots for the best protection against COVID-19. The first shot helps the body recognize the virus and the second shot starts teaches the body how to fight off the virus. Check your Ministry of Health for which vaccines are available.

When enough people become immune to a disease, it makes its spread unlikely. As a result, the entire community is protected, even those who have not or cannot receive the vaccine. This is called herd immunity.

Vaccines are the most effective medical intervention we have for preventing disease. While you can build some immunity to COVID-19 by getting the virus, there is a risk of severe illness and even death. Some people suffer from long term side effects of COVID-19. Additionally, COVID-19 infections are very contagious and can threaten vulnerable members of your household or community.

Vaccination allows you to build up immunity in a safe and controlled way without becoming ill with COVID-19 and passing it to others. It is unknown how long immunity from COVID-19 infection may last, and there are several cases of people getting COVID-19 more than once. Encourage everyone to get the vaccine even those who previously had COVID-19.

While it is common to experience mild side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, this does NOT mean you have COVID-19. The vaccines do not use live viruses.

It is completely normal to experience side effects after receiving the COVID-19. Side effects are most common for mRNA vaccines especially after the second dose. Common side effects include fever, headache, and muscle aches that may last 1-2 days. However, many people experience no side effects at all. The rate of side effects are similar to the flu vaccine.

At the time of the vaccine appointment, tell the patient which vaccine they will receive and ask them if they have any medical conditions. After the vaccine is administered, make sure to give them a vaccination record card and monitor them on site for a reaction to the vaccine for 15 minutes.

If the patient has received a vaccine that requires 2 doses, make sure to inform them about their next appointment. Remind them that even after getting vaccinated, it is still important to continue wearing a mask, washing your hands and physically distancing because we do not know yet if people who are vaccinated can carry the virus and infect others. So, encourage community members to still practice COVID-19 safety measures.