Before receiving Covid-19 vaccine injections
The first thing you need to do is to update your personal information in the MySejahtera app. Make sure you have filled in all the required information in the application. So, before receiving the injection, the health worker will brief you on the vaccine and you will be asked to sign the Covid-19 Vaccine Approval Form in front of the health worker. In fact, you may not be eligible to receive the vaccine if you:
1. Individuals with severe allergies - anaphylaxis from unknown causes, other vaccines, or drugs, or towards the first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
2. Individuals who are immunocompromised - history of cancer, organ transplant, on immunosuppressive drugs, or chronic HIV infection.
3. Individuals with bleeding disorders - history of haemophilia, low platelet count, or on blood-thinning drugs.
4. Has a history of reactions to any vaccine that has been received before
5. Patients with HIV
6. Individuals with fever due to viral or bacterial infections
7. Individuals who have low white blood cell problems
8. Mothers who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy (Depending on the type of vaccine)
9. Breast-feeding mothers (Depending on the type of vaccine)
This are the advisory given for pregnant and lactating mothers:
Pregnant Advisory
Prepare the things you will need to bring
Vaccine candidates will receive their assigned vaccination distribution centre (PPV) two weeks prior to their appointment. So, review your appointment date, time, and location! But fret not, MySejahtera will also issue you a reminder within 48 hours of your appointment to confirm your attendance.
Here is a checklist of things to bring on the day of vaccination :
1. A face mask (and hand sanitiser, to be cautious)
2. Your IC or passport for verification
3. Your mobile phone make sure to download the latest version of MySejahtera
4. Wear short sleeves or a shirt with loose sleeves that can be rolled up easily
5. A list of the medications you are taking/illnesses you have (especially for the elderly who may forget, frontliners appreciate when family members help list or have pictures of their medication boxes!)
6. Your own pen (for your own convenience when signing forms)
If you are extra hardworking, you may print the vaccination consent form and fill it up ahead of time. But don't worry if you can't, the healthcare workers at the PPVs are responsible for handing out and explaining these forms to you anyway.
At the vaccination distribution centre
Roughly know the vaccination process
Generally, here's how the appointment will go:
1. Scan your temperature and check in using MySejahtera
2. Register at a registration booth using your IC
3. Get briefed by a frontliner and sign a vaccination consent form as they will want to know if you have a fever, are pregnant, or have any pre-existing illness
4. Receive the vaccination
5. Wait in the observation area for 15 to 30 minutes to be monitored for allergic reactions
6. Receive vaccination digital certificate on MySejahtera indicating you have received first dose and be given appointment date for second dose
7. The whole process should take about one to two hours.
After getting vaccinated, mild side effects are normal and expected for a few days as the vaccine builds an immune response for your protection.
Some common side effects include:
Some pain, swelling, and redness on the arm where you got the shot
Chills or mild fever
Tiredness
Headache
Nausea
Muscle Ache
Swollen lymph nodes
Pro tip: Arrange your vaccine appointment before a weekend or be prepared to arrange for medical leave, as these side effects may affect your ability to do activities for one or two days.
However, know when to call a doctor for help
More serious or adverse side effects to vaccines are possible but extremely rare. Vaccines are still being continually studied to detect the occurrence of adverse reactions.
Contact your doctor or healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms:
Redness or tenderness at the spot where you got the shot gets worse after 24 hours.
Your side effects are getting worse or do not seem to be going away after a few days.
For AstraZeneca recipients, the MOH advises to seek medical assistance immediately if you experience the following symptoms of abnormal blood clotting within four days to four weeks:
-A severe headache that does not subside when lying down, or even after taking painkillers.
-Sudden blurred vision, difficulty speaking, weakness, or unexplained bruising or bleeding.
-Shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain.
Keep up preventive behaviours
It's important that you continue to follow preventive measures even after being vaccinated. While COVID-19 vaccines have been proven effective at stopping the disease from developing, it is still unsure if vaccines can prevent the transmission of the virus to others.
Continue to protect yourself and others by:
1. Washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser often
2. Wearing a mask when you're outdoors
3. Keeping at least 1m distance between yourself and others
4. Keeping away from crowded places
Having a sore arm for a couple of days after your COVID-19 vaccination is a pretty common side effect.
A billion muscle cells in your shoulder are being instructed to churn out as many spike proteins as they can
Your body is freaking out that there are a bunch of spike proteins in your arm" and your immune system is figuring out how to create antibodies to fight them
Your body is freaking out that there are a bunch of spike proteins in your arm and your immune system is figuring out how to create antibodies to fight them
However, even if you do not or did not experience any soreness, it does not mean that there is something wrong
different people may have different side effects. Some get fever and chills, while others do not feel a thing. Some might get a sore arm while others may not.Soreness is an indication that your immune system is working but even if you do not experience it, don't worry because different bodies function differently.
So why does the second dose of vaccination produce a more intense reaction in many cases?
it's because your body recognises those spike proteins and "mounts a generalised immune response".The COVID-19 vaccines "trick the body's immune system to think it's being invaded by the virus", explains infectious disease expert Aline M Holmes to Verywell Health. So your body sends white blood cells to fight off the "intruder". To soothe the soreness, experts suggest doing gentle movements or placing a cold compress on the area
