There are lots of myths about the vaccination out there like ‘getting COVID-19 itself is safer than taking the vaccine’, ‘the vaccine gives you coronavirus’ and that ‘regulators have cut corners to test the vaccine quickly’. None of these are true and I hope this document linked below helps to alleviate any concerns you may have about the COVID-19 vaccination.
For anyone seeking more information about the COVID vaccicne, the NHS website is a great place to start:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
Here are three short videos about how the vaccine is saving lives to help you to seriously think about taking the vaccine if you haven’t already. Please take some time to watch them – just click the photo or follow the link below each photo.
The first is from the World Health Organization (WHO), which answers some common questions about immunity after vaccination, transmission of the virus and continuing to protect people throughout the pandemic:
This video is by North Bristol Trust Associate Non-Executive Director, La Toyah McAllister-Jones, who talks to black and brown people in our communities to urge a better uptake of the vaccination:
And finally, Dr Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS, Associate Director at Centre for Ageing Better, talks about his experience of having the COVID vaccine and why it’s important for everyone to take the vaccine to save lives:
Dr Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS on LinkedIn: #covid19vaccine
If you have had COVID-19 you may be wondering if and when you can have the COVID vaccination. The good news is that you can have the vaccination 28 days after you have had a positive test for COVID-19 or 28 days after your symptoms started. This means that, as of today (5 March), if you had a positive COVID test before 5 February, you can have a COVID-19 vaccination if you are eligible.
If you have had COVID-19 then your body may have built up some natural immunity to the virus, however we don’t know how long this immunity lasts or if it fully protects you from catching COVID-19 again. It is likely that natural immunity won’t last as long as the immunity given to you by a vaccine, and there is no way of knowing if you have any protection. So, it is still very important to take up the offer of a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to you. This will help protect you, your family, your colleagues and our residents.
For anyone concerned about fertility and the COVID vaccination, please be reassured that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advice is that there is no biological reason why the vaccine would impact fertility and there is no evidence to suggest it does. If you remain concerned, you are advised to speak to your GP or practice nurse. More information is available on our Covid vaccination myth-busting info sheet.
If you are a frontline worker at the Trust (which includes housekeeping, catering and facilities as well as care and nursing staff) you are eligible for the vaccination and can book one here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/