COVID vaccines myth busting #4

Can COVID-19 vaccines give you COVID-19?

None of the approved vaccines in Australia contain the live virus. This means they cannot give you COVID-19.

Some of the side effects from COVID-19 vaccinations, such as fever and fatigue can mimic the symptoms of COVID-19.  These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.

For specific advice about side effects from different doses of vaccines, ask your doctor or health care professional. See your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible or go directly to a hospital if:

• you have a reaction that you consider severe or unexpected
• you are concerned about your condition after vaccination.
• People should seek medical attention immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms: shortness of breath
• chest pain
• swelling in your leg
• persistent abdominal (belly) pain
• neurological symptoms, including severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision
• tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of injection.
• It usually takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after full vaccination.

That means it’s possible a person could be infected with COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick. It is important to see your health professional if you think this may be the case.

Should you take blood thinning medication (such as Aspirin) before having the AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) vaccine?

It is not recommended to take over the counter medicine before receiving a vaccination for the purpose of preventing potential side effects.

You should continue to take prescribed medication unless advised by your medical practitioner. Always discuss any existing medical conditions with your doctor or pharmacist before you get any vaccine.

To date, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have not found any specific biological risk factors or pre-existing medical conditions that increases the risk of having thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after the AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) vaccine. There is no evidence that suggests that taking blooding thinning medications will reduce your chance of getting this rare side effect.

Do COVID-19 vaccines cause autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis, are chronic (long-term) illnesses where our immune systems attack our own cells. There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines can cause autoimmune diseases.

Does the AstraZeneca vaccine contain animal DNA?

The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective. Find out what is in the AstraZeneca vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine uses a chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine vector. This is a harmless, weakened adenovirus that usually causes the common cold in chimpanzees.

The adenovirus vaccine vector, known as ChAdOx1, was chosen as a suitable vaccine technology for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as it has been shown to generate a strong immune response from one dose in other vaccines.

It has been genetically changed so that it is impossible for it to grow in humans. Chimpanzee adenoviral vectors are a very well-studied vaccine type, havin.