Readers’ Covid-19 vaccination questions answered by experts

As the town’s vaccination programme continues at pace, we have been receiving plenty of questions from Warrington Guardian readers over recent weeks.

This week, we have submitted your questions once more to Dr Dan Bunstone and Dr Laura Mount, who are heading up the vast programme.

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Q. My son has Down's Syndrome and primary immunodeficiency. Will the vaccine still work the same?

A. When both vaccines were tested, vaccines trial participants included a range of those from various ages, immune-compromised and those with underlying health conditions.

Trial results found the vaccine was effective in providing protection against Covid-19. Details of the trials for both vaccines are published online at gov.uk.

Sadly, people with Downs Syndrome and primary immunodeficiencies are more at risk from serious illness and complications as a result of Covid-19, so it is really important that they get vaccinated.

All adults with Down’s Syndrome are in the clinically extremely vulnerable cohort and should have been contacted already about getting vaccinated.

If you or a loved one has not been contacted or would like to book a vaccine, please contact your local GP practice, visit nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119.

Q. Why have some people been given their date for the second dose and some have not?

A. Please do not worry if you have not got a date for your second vaccination. It is because sites are using slightly different booking systems.

The important thing is when you are invited to book an appointment for your second dose or when it is your appointment for your second dose, you attend.

If you have had your first vaccination at one of the pharmacies, at the mass vaccination site in St Helens or at Warrington Hospital, you will already have your appointment for the second vaccination.

If you went to one of the GP- led sites – Orford Jubilee Hub or the Halliwell Jones Stadium – they will be in touch very soon, if they haven’t already, with a date for your second dose

Q. I have allergies to certain drugs. Can I have the vaccine and do I need to inform anyone about this beforehand?

A. We know that patients with allergies are very anxious about whether to receive the vaccination.

If you have severe allergies and are in an open cohort, your GP will probably already have been in touch with you.

For other patients with a history of allergies, both GP led sites have clinical support and assessments available and will only vaccinate you after discussing the different vaccines with you.

If anyone does have a reaction to the vaccine, and even in the worst-case scenarios, we have you covered.

If you have any concerns that this could include you, please contact your GP practice via eConsult, and you can find a list of ingredients for both vaccines on the gov.uk website.

The Imaan Pharmacy coronavirus vaccination site at Warrington Islamic Centre in Bewsey

Q. To avoid wastage at the end of the day, are people able to come and be vaccinated even if they have not had their invite yet?

A. Vaccination services are under strict instructions to keep the number of wasted doses to an absolute minimum.

We are proud that at the Orford Jubilee Hub and Halliwell Jones Stadium vaccination sites, we have no wastage of any vaccines.

All vaccines have always made their way into people's arms. That has been the vision from the start.

Any spare vaccines due to missed or unfilled appointments, or the ability to draw additional full doses from a vial, are used wherever possible.

This is primarily done through each service operating a reserve list of eligible people – including health and social care workers, but also members of the public in the JCVI priority groups currently being vaccinated – who can be called at short notice to receive a dose where otherwise it might be wasted.

Please do not turn up at a vaccination site unless you have an appointment or you have been called and asked to attend.

Q. Why do more people seem to experience side-effects with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine than other vaccines?

A. Whether you have the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine, some people do have side effects, but in almost all cases these are really mild and go away within a few days.

The MHRA – the Government agency responsible for ensuring medicines are safe – has identified that some people might feel slightly unwell, but they report that no significant side effects have been observed in the tens of thousands of people involved in trials.

The vaccine has now been given safely to more than 20million people across the UK.

The most common side effects include tenderness in the arm around the injection area (this tends to be worst one to two days after), tiredness, headache, general aches or mild flu like symptoms.

Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have Covid-19 or another infection.

These symptoms normally last less than a week, are your body’s normal response to building immunity and are common side effects of most vaccines.

You can take the normal dose of paracetamol, following the advice on the packaging or directions from your pharmacist, and rest to help you feel better.

Q. How long do you have to wait after having Covid before you can have your vaccine?

A. People currently unwell and experiencing Covid-19 symptoms should not receive the vaccine until they have recovered.

If you are well enough, you can have the vaccine 28 days after you had a positive test for Covid-19 or 28 days after your symptoms started. 

Q. Do you need to have a vaccine if you have already had Covid? Do you not have some immunity already?

A. Even if you have had Covid-19, it is still important to be vaccinated.

There is no evidence of any safety concerns from vaccinating individuals with a past history of Covid-19 infection or with detectable antibodies, so people who have had the virus (whether confirmed or suspected) can still receive the vaccine when it is their time to do so.

However, there should be 28 days between the date of a Covid positive test or your symptoms starting.

Q. Why are some getting the Pfizer vaccine and some the Oxford-AstraZeneca? Does it depend on where you have the vaccine administered, and if so, why?

A. Vaccination services are receiving supplies of both vaccines. They are both shown to be safe and offer high levels of protection.

Which vaccine you receive depends upon which vaccination has been delivered to the service on the day of your appointment.

Q. Will getting the vaccine affect my fertility?

A. There is no evidence that the vaccine affects fertility at all.  Information suggesting an effect has been circulating on social media and this has worried some people, but it is not accurate.

The two royal colleges with responsibility for midwives and for obstetricians and gynaecologists have both looked at all the evidence, and they recently put out a clear statement to say there is no biologically plausible mechanism by which current vaccines would cause any impact on women's fertility.

Similar non-live vaccines, such as that used to protect against influenza, have been administered in pregnancy for many years.

Q. I am 17 and study healthcare, which involves contact with vulnerable people. Should I be vaccinated?

A. Anyone who has direct contact with vulnerable people as part of their work or study should be vaccinated to protect themselves and those they care for.

If, as part of your studies you are now on placement, please let your practice know. The easiest way to do this is to send an eConsult via your practice’s website.

Those aged 16 and 17 can currently only have the Pfizer vaccine. 

If you haven’t been called already for your vaccine, please discuss your case with your medical practice.