Immunization is a simple, safe, and effective process to protect against diseases, as it pushes the body to resist certain infections and strengthen the immune system by training the immune system to form antibodies. Given the speed and ease of spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and its infection of the majority of the world's population, the importance of this vaccine lies in protecting against the Coronavirus through allowing the body to safely develop an immune response that provides protection for the body by preventing or controlling infection. The vaccine will also allow the lifting of the travel bans in countries, and the reduction of social distancing and thus the return of normal life gradually.
Generally, vaccines reduce the risk of infection by working with the body's natural defense for protection to safely develop. When a vaccination is given, the immune system responds by:
1. Recognizing the virus as soon as it enters the body.
2. It produces antibodies (proteins that the immune system naturally produces to fight disease).
3. Remembers the disease and how to fight it.
Therefore, the vaccine is a safe and smart way, since as soon as the body takes one or more doses of the vaccine, it produces an immune response without causing the disease, so instead of treating the disease after its occurrence, the vaccine will prevent the disease in the first place.
There are two main reasons for taking the vaccine:
1. Protecting ourselves.
2. Protecting those around us.
Without vaccinations, we will always be at risk of contracting Covid-19 infection, which can be life-threatening.
The Kingdom’s aim is to make the COVID-19 vaccine available to all citizens and residents within the coming months, based on a phased strategic plan to limit the impact of the COVID-19 virus on our community and our critical infrastructure. To that end, the targeted population for each phase of the roll-out has been identified based on specific criteria selected by the MOH and the Saudi CDC. The targeted population is identified as follows:
The targeted group in the first phase:
The targeted group in the second phase:
The targeted group in the third phase:
This vaccine is considered safe; due to the effective passage of the vaccine testing stages, its strong immune response and persistent antibodies. The side effects of the vaccine are mostly minor and temporary (such as: injection site reaction, mild fever, or headache).
Any licensed vaccine is rigorously tested through multiple stages of trials before it is approved for use, and it is regularly re-evaluated. Scientists also constantly monitor information from multiple sources for any sign that the vaccine may pose health risks.
Always remember that it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it has occurred.
Like any other vaccine, this vaccine can cause mild side effects (such as: a mild fever, pain, or redness at the injection site) and mild reactions disappear within a few days on their own.
Paracetamol, a medication used to treat pain and fever, can be taken after getting vaccinated to reduce the severity of the mild side effects. Severe or long-term side effects have not yet been monitored; however, the vaccine is constantly monitored to ensure its safety as well as the strength of the body's immune response to it.
1. Feeling tired and having a headache.
2. Injection site reaction whether pain or redness.
3. Muscle pain and a general feeling of illness.
4. High temperature and body tremors.
1. Taking paracetamol to relieve headaches, muscle pain, high temperature, and feeling of illness.
2. Putting cold compresses on the injection site to reduce pain, redness and swelling, if any.
3. Monitoring the side effects and when any cause of concern occurs, you should contact the health care provider.
1. Inform the doctor when feeling any illness condition before receiving the vaccine (such as: high temperature) or any other symptoms to determine the possibility of taking the vaccine with this condition.
2. Inform the doctor in detail about the medical history and whether the patient suffers from a chronic disease (such as: diabetes, high blood pressure, or asthma), the extent of its control, and the treatment plan that the patient is receiving at the present time.
3. Inform the doctor about the occurrence of any allergic reaction with any of the vaccinations that the patient has received before.
The vaccine is given by injection into a muscle, where two doses of the vaccine are received three weeks apart.
1. Influenza viruses are active in the fall and winter seasons, and the new Coronavirus may also be active at this time.
2. If a person is more prone to infection with the Coronavirus, then he is also more likely to get influenza.
3. If a person has been infected with the Coronavirus previously, it is safe to take the influenza vaccine, as it will be effective in helping to prevent the flu.
4. Reducing the risk of contracting influenza, being hospitalized and death.
5. Getting the flu vaccine leads to the provision of healthcare resources to take care of patients with COVID-19.
There is no contradiction if the two vaccines are received at the same time, but they can be separated by 3-4 weeks to facilitate monitoring the side effects of each vaccine separately and not to confuse them.
1. Monitor the emergence of side effects very closely and record them upon their appearance for a period of 7 days upon receiving the vaccine.
2. Monitor the patient himself about the occurrence of illness or any other health condition for 3 weeks after receiving the vaccine.
3. Refrain from pregnancy.
4. Avoid donating blood.
5. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding anxiety and stress to enhance immunity, such as eating healthy food and drinking enough fluids, the most important of which is water and sleeping for enough hours.
* Until enough information is available on the vaccine durability (duration of protection), and until enough people are vaccinated, it is very important to keep up with the MOH recommendations and the preventative and precautionary measures to protect yourself and others.
For further information visit the COVID-19 Website:
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