What to Expect Post COVID Vaccination, How To Deal With Adverse Effects: All You Need To Know

580 adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) were recorded in India, three days after the coronavirus vaccination drive was rolled out. Of these, seven people required hospitalisation.

This translates to 0.15% of the total number of people vaccinated. While this number cited by the Centre is within the range, what should you expect after you receive COVID-19 vaccination? How should you deal with an adverse reaction? Here¡¯s all you need to know:

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What will happen at the vaccination centre?

As reported, people will be allotted a time slot for their turn for vaccination, which will happen in selected medical centres right now.

What to expect post vaccination?

Once you are inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine ¨C Covaxin or Covishield ¨C you are taken into the observation room at the site. Here, your general parameters are monitored for 30 minutes for a possible Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) before you are allowed to leave the site of vaccination.

The #largestVaccineDrive was inaugurated today by Hon'ble Shri @narendramodi across the nation. #JPHospital is proud to be a part of this massive vaccination Drive starting with health workers.@PMOIndia @Naveen_Odisha #CoronaVaccination @DMSundargarh pic.twitter.com/VBUmpNbx6c

¡ª Jaiprakash Hospitals and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd. (@JpHospitalsRkl) January 16, 2021

What is Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI)?

An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) is any untoward medical occurrence, which follows immunisation, and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine, explains the guidelines released by the Ministry of Health. The adverse event may be any unfavourable or unintended disease, symptom, sign or abnormal laboratory finding, the advisory added.

Hon¡¯ble CM @ArvindKejriwal visits LNJP Hospital to inspect the vaccination drive by Delhi Govt as phase 1 of the COVID vaccination begins across 81 sites in Delhi.pic.twitter.com/fnZJKU1Pna

¡ª AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 16, 2021

What symptoms fall under AEFI?

Minor AEFI: Common and self limiting reactions, for example, pain, swelling at site of injection, fever, irritability, tiredness, dizziness, and nausea.

Severe AEFI: Can be disabling and rarely life threatening. These do not lead to long-term problems. Eg: High fever (>102 degree F), anaphylaxis (allergic reaction).

Serious AEFI: Those reactions that requires inpatient hospitalisation, causes significant disability.

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What are the expected side-effects?

For Covishield, the fact sheet says some mild adverse events can happen following immunisation: Injection site tenderness, injection site pain, headache, fatigue, myalgia (muscle pain), discomfort, pyrexia (an abnormal elevation of body temperature), chills, and nausea.

In such cases, a paracetamol can be given, the advisory adds. It also says ¡°very rare events of demyelinating disorders¡± have been reported following vaccination with Covishield, ¡°without the causal relationship establishment.¡±

Reuters

Demyelinating disorders refer to any condition that results in damage to the protective covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds nerve fibers in your brain, optic nerves and spinal cord, according to Mayo Clinic. They can result in neurological problems.

According to the Centre¡¯s fact sheet, there are some common adverse events after administering Covaxin. These include, injection site pain, fatigue, fever, headache, body ache, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, sweating and cold cough. Bharat Biotech has claimed that no serious adverse event has been reported in Phase 1 and 2.

What to do if you develop adverse effects later?

In case you develop adverse effects some hours or days later, call your vaccination site immediately or you can also call the COVID-19 helpline ¨C 1075.

Reuters

Can you get Covid after taking vaccine?

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after vaccination. That means it's possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick.