This FAQ section contains our questions related to Vaccine safety and components.
To navigate to a different section of the FAQs, or go back to the main page, click on any of the links below:
- Back to main COVID-19 Vaccination webpage
- FAQ section on Vaccine coverage and eligibility
- FAQ section on Vaccine efficacy/effectiveness
- FAQ section on Fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding
- FAQ section on Practical queries around getting the vaccine
- FAQ section on Operational plans
Important links:
Read about the approved Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 by MHRA on GOV.UK
Read about the approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 by MHRA on GOV.UK
No, you cannot catch COVID-19 from the vaccines but it is possible to have caught COVID-19 and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment.
The most important symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:
a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
Although headaches or a mild fever can occur within a day or two of vaccination, if you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test. Further information on symptoms is available on NHS.UK.
It is important to note that you still might be able to carry the virus and transmit it to others after having your vaccine so please continue to follow the latest social distancing guidelines.
Yes. The NHS will not offer any COVID-19 vaccinations to the public until independent experts have signed off that it is safe to do so. The MHRA, the official UK regulator, have said that all the vaccines approved have good safety profiles and offer a high level of protection, and we have full confidence in their expert judgement and processes. As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products. There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process and monitoring continues once it has been authorised and is being used in the wider population.
The MHRA and Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation released updates on the 7 April 2021 in relation to the review of recent reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after AstraZeneca vaccination. This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear. The benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh any risks for most people.
Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination. This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear.
Although this condition remains extremely rare there appears to be a higher risk in people shortly after the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Around 4 people develop this condition for every million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine doses given.
This is seen slightly more often in younger people and tends to occur between 4 days and 2 weeks following vaccination. This condition can also occur naturally, and clotting problems are a common complication of COVID-19 infection. An increased risk has not yet been seen after other COVID-19 vaccines but is being carefully monitored.
The COVID-19 vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. For people aged 30 or over and those with other health conditions, the benefits of being vaccinated outweigh any risks.
For people under 30 without other health conditions, it’s currently advised that it’s preferable to have another COVID-19 vaccine instead of the AstraZeneca vaccine. If you choose to have another COVID-19 vaccine you may have to wait to be protected. You may wish to go ahead with the AstraZeneca vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you.
Read more >>
Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects.
Most side effects are mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:
– a sore arm where the needle went in
– feeling tired
– a headache
– feeling achy
– feeling or being sick
You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you need to. You may get a high temperature or feel hot or shivery 1 or 2 days after having your vaccination. If you have a high temperature you may have coronavirus or another infection. If your symptoms get worse or you are worried, call NHS 111.
It is very rare for anyone to have a serious reaction to the vaccine (anaphylaxis). If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes of receiving the vaccine where trained clinical professionals are on hand to attend to you immediately.
If you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction, you should tell healthcare staff before you are vaccinated.
You should not have the COVID-19 vaccine if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction (including anaphylaxis) to:
– a previous dose of the same vaccine
– any of the ingredients in the vaccine
Although serious side effects are very rare, if you experience any of the following from around 4 days to 4 weeks after vaccination you should seek medical advice urgently:
– a new, severe headache which is not helped by painkillers or gets worse
– a headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over
– an unusual headache that may be accompanied by:
– blurred vision, nausea and vomiting
– difficulty with your speech
– weakness, drowsiness or seizures
– new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding
– shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain
More information on possible side effects can be found at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine
Yes. The NHS will not offer any COVID-19 vaccinations to the public until independent experts have signed off that it is safe to do so. Medicines including vaccines are highly regulated – and that is no different for the approved COVID-19 vaccines. There are a number of enablers that have made this ground-breaking medical advancement possible and why it was possible to develop them relatively quickly compared to other medicines;
1 – This is not the first Coronavirus and over the past few years scientists have been developing potential vaccines against other Coronavirus strains (ie SARS) and have therefore had a head start on the COVID-19 vaccine.
2 – The different phases of the COVID-19 clinical trials were delivered to overlap instead of run sequentially which sped up the clinical process.
3 – There was a rolling assessment of data packages as soon as they were available so experts at the MHRA could review as the trial was being delivered, ask questions along the way and request extra information as needed – as opposed to getting all information at the end of a trial.
4 – clinical trials managed to recruit people very quickly as a global effort meant thousands of people were willing to volunteer.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is continuing to monitor reports of adverse reactions. Further information on adverse reactions can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after AstraZeneca vaccination. This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear. The benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh any risks for most people. Read more >>
The vaccine is recommended for those with diabetes as they are classed as being at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) in priority group 6. For further details on how it may affect blood sugar levels see more information here.
As with all vaccinations and medicines, patient safety is the NHS number one priority. Public Health England have robust systems in place to monitor surveillance and will be following incident reporting protocols in the usual way. Patients will be provided with information on how to report any issues after they have received their vaccine.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is continuing to monitor reports of adverse reactions. Further information on adverse reactions can be found on the GOV.UK website.
The MHRA and Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation released updates on the 7 April 2021 in relation to the review of recent reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after AstraZeneca vaccination. This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear. The benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh any risks for most people
For the Pfizer trial, participants included 9.6% black/African, 26.1% Hispanic/Latino and 3.4% Asian.
For the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine 10.1% of trail recipients were Black and 3.5% Asian.
There is no evidence either of the vaccines will work differently in different ethnic groups.
Neither vaccine contains penicillin. If you have a previous history of extreme allergic reactions you will be issued the vaccine in a high controlled environment such as a hospital site. If you have a history of anaphylaxis reactions please discuss this with your GP when they contact you for your vaccine appointment and they willmay refer you to a more appropriate site.
If you have sickle cell disease you may be at higher risk for some COVID-19 complications. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus. In partnership with the National Haemoglobinopathy Panel, the UK Forum on Haemoglobin Disorders and the UK Thalassaemia Society, the Sickle Cell Society have issued a statement along with information specific to the COVID-19 vaccination in patients with haemoglobinopathies and rare inherited anaemias (including sickle cell disorder).
No, the vaccines do not contain a microchip.
No, the vaccines do not alter your DNA.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine uses something called mRNA technology. This teaches our cells to triggers a protective immune response. The mRNA is broken down soon after it enters the body and never enters the part of the cell where our DNA is kept.
Yes, both the two currently rolled out COVID-19 vaccines do not contain foetal, animal products, mercury or egg. All ingredients are published in healthcare information on the MHRA’s website.
Read about the approved Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 by MHRA on GOV.UK
Read about the approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 by MHRA on GOV.UK
The British Islamic Medical Association have issued specific advice urging Muslims observing Ramadan not to delay getting the vaccine, drawing on analysis from Islamic scholars which says that injections for non-nutritional purposes do not invalidate the fast.
See also Ramadan safety guidance for mosques from the Muslim Council of Britain.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine does not contain any alcohol. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine contains a very small amount of alcohol (ethanol), which is less than what is found in natural foods or bread. This is not enough to cause any noticeable effects.
The vaccine ingredients for both vaccines approved in the UK can be found here:
• Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
• Oxford/AstraZeneca