COVID-19 infection caused by the novel coronavirus has had broad reaching effects in to all aspects of our life. In this series, we continue answering your questions related to COVID-19, this time focussing on vaccination efforts.

The list here is no way exhaustive and will continue to be updated. We welcome you to book a consult with any one of our highly trained clinicians to discuss these and any additional questions you may have.

What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Most side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and short-lived and typically experienced 1 or 2 days after receiving the vaccine. The commonly reported side effects are:

• Soreness at the injection site or of the arm that was injected.
• Feeling tired (fatigue)
• Headache
• Generalised aches
• Fevers or chills.

Side effects, if experienced to be severe, may be managed by taking painkillers such as Paracetamol (Panadol).

Should your symptoms not improve or be getting worse, please seek medical attention.

Before getting the vaccine, it is important to inform the healthcare staff if you have previously had any serious allergic reaction. You should not receive the vaccine if you have had a serious reaction to a previous dose or to any of the ingredients of the vaccine.

Our online clinicians are on-hand to evaluate your symptoms and advise if you can receive the vaccine.

Is it ok/safe to receive the vaccine while breastfeeding?

This is safe. Current evidence indicates that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine while breastfeeding is safe and even recommended. At the moment, there are no known adverse effects on the newborn who is breastfeeding. In fact, there is evidence of passage of protective antibodies to the breastfeeding child. Breastfeeding should continue as usual when a mother receives the vaccine.

Is it ok/safe to receive the vaccine when pregnant?

This is safe and already approved in some countries. Clinical trials underway found no safety concerns in those who receive the vaccine and become pregnant or those who are already pregnant or in those with babies.

Pregnant people have been shown to be more likely to get severe illness from COVID-19 than non-pregnant people. Getting the vaccine can protect pregnant people from getting severe COVID-19 illness. Vaccination has been recommended for pregnant women whose risk of exposure to COVID-19 is high.

In Kenya, vaccine use for pregnant women has not yet been explicitly granted.

Should one do a COVID-19 test before getting the vaccine?

No, you do not need to do a COVID-19 test before getting the vaccine. However, if you have recently had COVID-19, it is advisable that you wait at least until the advised isolation period has ended or until all symptoms have fully cleared.

Can one get COVID-19 infection after receiving the vaccine?

Vaccination protects you from getting seriously ill and dying from COVID-19. It typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the  body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes  COVID-19 and to reach a level to protect us from severe illness. That  means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 before or just  after getting a vaccine.  There is a small risk that some fully vaccinated people will get infected. This is known as a “breakthrough infection” and it is entirely expected. It is important to realise the limitations of vaccines. No vaccine offers full protection to everyone who receives it.

There is a small risk that some fully vaccinated people will get infected. This is known as a “breakthrough infection” and it is entirely expected. It is important to realise the limitations of vaccines. No vaccine offers full protection to everyone who receives it.

While a COVID-19 vaccine will protect you from serious illness and death, it still not clear the extent to which it protects a person from being infected and passing the virus on to others. Getting vaccinated is important as it will also protect people around you, especially if they are at increased risk of severe disease.

To help keep others safe, continue to maintain at least a 1-metre distance from others, cover a cough or sneeze in your elbow, clean your hands frequently and wear a mask, particularly in enclosed, crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. Always follow guidance from local authorities based on the situation and risk where you live.

If I get vaccinated, do I still need a COVID test if I have symptoms?

Yes, getting vaccinated does not mean that you cannot get COVID-19 infection. It is important to confirm or rule out infection if you develop symptoms suggestive of infection. One can still get infected and potentially transmit infection to others. Confirming presence or absence of infection by testing would be essential in making sure you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you.

As mentioned before, even after vaccination, it is necessary to maintain reasonable precautions as recommended by local authorities.

Does receiving the vaccine affect the results of the COVID-19 test?

No, it does not. None of the currently approved vaccines will cause you to test positive for COVID-19 using tests checking for current infection such as PCR tests. However, you may test positive in antibody tests which would indicate either a previous infection or that your body has been able to mount an immune response after vaccination.

I have already been infected with COVID-19, should I get vaccinated?

If you have COVID-19 before, you should still get the vaccine as you may not be fully immune and may get infected a second time. It is still not fully understood how long the immunity from infection lasts. There have even been documented cases of reinfection.

It is best to get the vaccine after you have recovered. It is generally recommended that this happens after the recommended isolation period has ended or once symptoms are fully resolved if this extends beyond the recommended isolation period. In some regions, receiving the vaccination is delayed till 3 months (90 days) after a PCR-confirmed infection. This will reduce the risk of transmitting the virus on the way to getting the vaccine.

It is important to speak with your doctor to get advice on ending isolation or proceeding to get the vaccine.

Book a consult to speak with one of our clinicians if you have had COVID-19 infection and trying to decide if you should go get the vaccine.

Who can receive the vaccine and when? (This will be updated as the situation evolves)

Worldwide, vaccine distribution has initially been focussed on groups at high risk of exposure or severe illness. These groups include frontline healthcare workers, the elderly and those with existing conditions that predispose them to severe illness. This then paves way for a phased approach to vaccinate less high risk groups.

Kenya is following a similar phased approach targeting healthcare workers and those at high risk. Distribution is very dependent on vaccine availability. This initially had the following three phases.

Phase 1: From March 2021 to June 2021. Targeting 1.25 million people, primarily frontline healthcare workers and security agencies This was adjusted to cover all those over 58 years of age.

Phase 2: From July 2021 to June 2022. Targeting 9.76 million of the most vulnerable made up of the elderly and those over 18 years with comorbidities.

Phase 3: From July 2022 to June 2023. Targets 4.9 million people made up of other vulnerable groups of people over 18 years in congregations, hospitality and tourism industry

Phase 1 has since been expanded through several iterations to initially include all those over 58 years of age and now also includes all those over 18 years of age with co-morbidities.

Where can one receive the vaccine?

This is primarily through announced public and private hospitals and clinics.

CEMA Africa has a regularly updated list of centres offering vaccinations. View the list here.