As a key vaccine that can protect your health, the COVID-19 vaccine is available to adults throughout Australia. If you're yet to have yours, or if you're still awaiting your second dose, it's worth learning more about how to prepare for it.
Knowing Which Vaccine Type
It's important to know which type of vaccine you're going to get at your appointment. Certain brands are approved for certain age brackets. Additionally, if you've already had one brand it's advisable to use that brand at your second appointment. In doing so, you may make it easier to enter other countries in the future. A lot of countries don't approve of brand mixing.
Check Your Eligibility
Your eligibility for a COVID vaccination appointment can depend on several factors. In addition to your age, your health status and where you work can have an impact. You may also find that you can only have a second dose after waiting a certain number of weeks. Before you make your appointment, check to ensure there is nothing that will stop you from proceeding once you get there.
Staying COVID Safe
While you wait for your appointment and even afterwards, you need to remain COVID safe. Although vaccines will reduce the severity of the disease and your chances of passing it on, they won't stop you from getting it at all. As such, you need to continue washing your hands, maintain a good physical distance, and isolate yourself when you need to.
Check Your Health
You shouldn't receive the COVID vaccine if you have had the disease in the two weeks before your appointment. Additionally, if you're showing signs of COVID on the day of your appointment you should take a PCR test and wait for the results to come back before proceeding. Always make sure you tell the person administering your vaccine about underlying health concerns and recent vaccinations too.
Staying Comfortable
Some people experience side effects following their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Fortunately, the side effects are usually mild but can include headaches, a fever, and feeling generally unwell. To reduce your chances of them happening, take some paracetamol on the day of your vaccine and try staying well hydrated. Paracetamol can reduce any fever you experience and pain at the vaccine site. Hydration can reduce your chances of feeling generally unwell.
If you need more specialist advice about preparing for your COVID vaccination appointments, make sure you speak to a medical professional.
Share25 August 2021
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes ten years ago. Since my diagnosis, I have been committed to learning how to modify my lifestyle and adopt healthy practices, such as daily exercise and eating wholefoods, that help control my diabetes and improve my quality of life. I started this blog to connect with others living with this condition and to share what I've learned on my personal journey to better health. I also update the blog with the latest research and news relating to type 2 diabetes. If you have a specific question that's not been addressed in a blog post, feel free to send me an email.
