COVID-19 Vaccination

PfizerBioNTech Vaccine leaflet

Most people will be able to safely get the vaccine. You should not get the COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• Have had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine (see the list of ingredients)
• Have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine

The HSE have provided a guide for people aged 18 to 34 to help them decide on their vaccination options.

Note: HSE resources are updated regularly but the most up to date information is available here.

• PfizerBioNTech Vaccine: polyethylene glycol/macrogol (PEG) as part of
• ALC-0159, ALC-0315 = (4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl)bis (hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate),ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide,, 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol, potassium chloride, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, sucrose, water for injections. e

Covid-19 or Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. It is an illness that can affect your lungs and airways. Most people infected with the Covid-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

Common symptoms of Covid-19 include:

• a fever (high temperature – 38 degrees Celsius or above)
• a new cough – this can be any kind of cough, not just dry
• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

You may not have all of these symptoms and symptoms can take up to 14 days to show.

If you have any common symptoms of Covid-19 self-isolate (stay in your room) and get a Covid-19 PCR test. Other people in your household will also need to restrict their movements (stay at home).

While it is up to you to decide to get the vaccine, the HSE, the World Health Organization and the Department of Health strongly recommend that you do so as soon as it is offered to you. Covid-19 vaccines used in Ireland are safe and effective and will offer you protection by teaching your immune system how to protect you from the virus. All vaccines used in the Republic of Ireland must be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA only approves vaccines once they are satisfied that they are safe and effective. Because COVID-19 has caused a crisis all around the world, lots of work is being done by experts in many countries. Some people may still get Covid-19 even after receiving the vaccine, but the vaccine works to reduce this to a mild illness and less severe symptoms. Extensive testing and monitoring have shown that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

Like all medicines, vaccines can have side effects. The side effects are mostly mild or moderate and include things like having a sore arm or itching in the part where the injection was given, feeling tired, feeling sick, swollen lymph glands in the arm where the vaccine was given, body chills or feeling like you have a fever. Some people don’t get any side effects at all. More rarely, people experience sleeplessness, or temporary weakness in their face muscles.

The side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine are similar to the side effects that you can get from other vaccines. We know this from looking at the results of clinical trials, and from the reports from the millions of people around the world who have already been vaccinated.

We know that serious side effects to vaccines, like an allergic reaction, are extremely rare. As more people in Ireland and around the world get this vaccine, the HSE will update our website with any new information.

Like all medicines, vaccines can have side effects. The side effects are mostly mild or moderate and include things like having a sore arm or itching in the part where the injection was given, feeling tired, feeling sick, swollen lymph glands in the arm where the vaccine was given, body chills or feeling like you have a fever. Some people don’t get any side effects at all. More rarely, people experience sleeplessness, or temporary weakness in their face muscles.

• Following an anaphylactic reaction to a first dose of a Covid Vaccine
• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients contained in the vaccine as listed further below

On the day of your Covid-19 Vaccine Appointment:

• Allow at least 30 minutes for your vaccination appointment. After getting the vaccine, you will be under observation for 15 minutes.
• Please be on time but do not arrive at the pharmacy more than 5 minutes before your appointment
• If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please contact the pharmacy as soon as possible as we need to minimise vaccine wastage from each vaccine vile.
• Adults should arrive for their vaccination unaccompanied where possible
• Please wear a loose-fitting top so that your upper arm is easily accessible
• Bring your phone, photo ID and a face covering