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Why is the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine important?
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine helps protect you from COVID-19 disease and is the only vaccine that connects us to safe community protection.
It is the safest way to help create protection, and an important step to eradicate the Corona pandemic - God willing -
How will the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine protect me?
- The COVID-19 vaccine reduces your risk of contracting COVID-19 and reduces severe complications of the disease. It promotes the creation of antibodies and an immune response without disease/infection. - Receiving the vaccine may also help protect people in your surroundings, especially those at high risk, such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases. - The combination of obtaining the vaccine and following the recommendations of the Ministry of Health by adhering to the precautionary measures (wearing a mask, applying social distancing and washing hands) achieves the best means of protection against infection with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) until more studies and evidence-based information are available.
How can I be sure that the vaccine is safe and effective?
Prior to approval, all vaccines, including the Corona vaccine, are subject to all clinical trials and safety checks that all other licensed drugs are subject to. Saudi Arabia adopts some of the highest safety standards in the world, all passing through Vaccines are approved by many regulatory authorities in the Kingdom, such as the Food and Drug General Authority, the Ministry of Health, and others. They are also licensed and approved by international regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency. Rest assured that the health authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will choose only the safest and most effective vaccines available worldwide.
Before any vaccine can be approved for general use by regulators, it must undergo extensive testing by the manufacturer to ensure its safety and efficacy through clinical trials involving tens of thousands of volunteers. Highly trained scientists and physicians carefully evaluate the results of clinical trials for the safety of the vaccine before it is approved. The most common side effects of the vaccine are noted in studies before the vaccine is approved.
How many doses of the vaccine do I need to take?
It depends on the vaccine. Most of the currently available vaccines against Coronavirus (Covid-19) require two doses to achieve the desired immunity.
Will I be protected after the first dose of the vaccine?
Studies indicate that the immunity achieved from the first dose requires a second dose to stimulate it and achieve the desired immunity from the vaccine.
Does the vaccine have side effects?
The corona vaccine, like any other vaccine, can cause side effects for some but not everyone. These are usually mild and temporary. Common side effects may include pain or redness at the injection site, heat, chills, and fatigue. To relieve these symptoms:
- Apply cold compresses to the injection site to reduce pain and redness at the injection site, if any. - Take paracetamol to relieve headache, high temperature and fatigue. - When side effects persist for more than a week or when a cause for concern occurs, you must immediately call 937, report through the Health app, or go to the nearest health facility. Also, it may occur in very rare cases such as any vaccine hypersensitivity that does not exceed 0.6% that may call for rapid intervention and these side effects appear immediately after - taking the vaccine and for this reason, observation is required at the place where the vaccine is administered for a period of 15 minutes.
If there is more than one vaccine against Coronavirus (Covid-19), will I be able to choose which one to get?
- The vaccine you will receive will depend on the vaccine available at the time of your vaccination visit. All vaccines are highly effective in light of all clinical and scientific information available by the vaccine manufacturer and the Food and Drug Authority. Information related to vaccines and
- any side effects will be closely monitored, as we guarantee at the Ministry of Health that all vaccines that are approved for use in the Kingdom are effective and safe. - When you book the appointment, Abeer My Health App, now it becomes clear to you the type of vaccine provided in each vaccination center.
Should pregnant women get the coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine? The Corona Virus (Covid-19) vaccine will be given to pregnant women, as studies indicate that there is no harm to the pregnant woman or the fetus, while her infection with the virus may cause severe complications and threaten pregnancy.
If I've been previously diagnosed with Coronavirus (COVID-19), should I get the vaccine? Those who are confirmed to have COVID-19 in the laboratory (molecule polymerase test or serology) are excluded from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine until sufficient data is available on this matter.
For someone who has an appointment to get the vaccine and has symptoms of Covid 19, should he go to his appointment to get the vaccine? Whoever was previously infected with the Corona virus (Covid) has varying immunity, so the vaccination will be postponed at this stage until the period of ninety days has passed from the previous infection, provided that the applicant to receive the vaccine is from the target group at the time.
How long does the vaccine last after I get the second dose? The duration of protection provided by the vaccine is still unknown, but it will not be less than several months. Until the duration of protection provided by the vaccine is known and until a sufficient number of the population is covered with the vaccine, the recommendations of the Ministry of Health should be followed with regard to precautionary measures (such as wearing a mask and following the rules of distancing social and hand washing).
Why was my appointment postponed after it was confirmed? The administration of the Corona Covid-19 vaccine has been rescheduled to those who received the first dose of the “Pfizer” vaccine due to the manufacturer’s delay in supplying to the Kingdom and all countries of the world to which it exports the vaccine, as a result of stopping its factory to expand production lines. However, due to the return of production lines to work and the availability of quantities of vaccines, appointments were put forward for everyone to book an appointment to receive the vaccine.
Does the rescheduling apply to the dates of the first and second doses? The rescheduling took place on the dates of the first dose that was booked starting from January 20 and the dates of the second dose that were booked between January 28 and February 16. Due to the manufacturer’s delay in supplying to the Kingdom and all countries of the world to which the vaccine is issued, as a result of stopping its factory to expand its lines production. However, due to the return of production lines to work and the availability of quantities of vaccines, appointments were put forward for everyone to book an appointment to receive the vaccine.
Will the new appointment be available before the time period between the two doses ends? Yes, knowing that the second dose can be obtained 42 days after receiving the first dose.
Does the delay in obtaining the second dose affect the effectiveness of the vaccination and access to complete immunity? No, if the period does not exceed 42 days (6 weeks).
