Some underlying medical conditions are important for us to know about before giving you a COVID vaccine and many of them are included on the Consent form for COVID 19 vaccine. You also may have some questions
Read through the conditions and questions below and make sure you let us know before you have the vaccine if you have any of these conditions or questions. You can also click on the question to find out more about why the question is important.
- General questions
- Questions if you are having or thinking of having the Astra Zeneca vaccine
- Questions if you are having or thinking of having the Pfizer vaccine
General Questions
Have you had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine?
Have you had anaphylaxis to another vaccine or medication?
Have you ever had mastocytosis which has caused recurrent anaphylaxis?
Do you have a bleeding disorder?
Do you take any medicine to thin your blood (an anticoagulant therapy)?
Do you have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised)?
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy?
Have you had a COVID-19 vaccination before?
What if I have a high fever on the day of the vaccine≥38.5◦C.
Questions if you are having or thinking of having the Astra Zeneca vaccine
Have you ever been diagnosed with capillary leak syndrome?
Have you ever had cerebral venous sinus thrombosis?
Have you ever had heparin-induced thrombocytopenia?
Have you ever had blood clots in the abdominal veins (splanchnic veins)?
Have you ever had antiphospholipid syndrome associated with blood clots?
Are you under 60 years of age and considering the Astra Zeneca vaccine?
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Questions if you are having or thinking of having the Pfizer vaccine
Have you ever had myocarditis or pericarditis?
Do you currently have, or have you recently had acute rheumatic fever or endocarditis?
Do you have congenital heart disease?
For people under 30 years of age: do you have dilated cardiomyopathy?
Do you have severe heart failure?
Are you a recipient of a heart transplant?
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Under 60 years of age and considering the Astra Zeneca vaccine
If you are less than 60 and considering having the Astra Zeneca vaccine please call to make an appointment so we can help you to weigh up whether you would like to make that decision and then we can, if need be, organise for you to have the vaccine. We have more information about the clotting disorder at Rare clotting disorder from Astra Zeneca
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People who cannot have the ASTRA ZENECA vaccine
Anyone who has had major venous and/or arterial thrombosis in combination with thrombocytopenia, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Syndrome (TTS), following a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia? blood clots in the abdominal veins (splanchnic veins)or antiphospholipid syndrome associated with blood clots cannot have the ASTRA ZENECA vaccine. For more information see our article Who cannot have the Astra Zeneca vaccine?
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An anaphylactic reaction or serious adverse event from a prior COVID 19 Vaccination or a component of the vaccine.
If you have had an anaphylactic reaction or serious adverse event from a prior COVID 19 vaccination or a vaccine component, you cannot have the vaccine again. You will need to make an appointment to organise whether you can have one of the other COVID 19 vaccines. If you have an allergic reaction within 4 hours we will need to get advice from a specialist as to whether you can have the same vaccine again
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Sick on the day
If you are sick on the day of your vaccine with a cough, headache, sore throat, fever or any symptoms that may be COVID 19 please call us to reschedule and go and have a covid test.
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Anaphylaxis to another vaccine previously
You need to make an appointment to make sure you did not react to a component of the vaccine included in the COVID vaccine. One of the components that can be a problem for some people is PEG or polysorbate 80. PEG is often found in bowel preparation products, laxatives, tablets, hand sanitiser gels, cosmetics, skincare products and some food and drink
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Prior COVID 19 infection
You usually have good protection from COVID19 for about 6 months after you are ill. Generally, we advise people to wait for 6 months fr the vaccine. If you had treatment for COVID 19 we would also check that the treatment will not interfere with the amount of immunity you get from the vaccine.
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Vaccines within 7 days of the COVID vaccine
We generally don’t give a COVID vaccine within 7 days of another vaccine except in exceptional circumstances, as you may have more side effects. In future it might be that the COVID vaccine is combined with the flu vaccine.
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High fever on the day of the vaccine
If you have a high fever, you should have a swab for COVID infection and you need to make an appointment to sort out what is causing the fever. You cannot have your COVID vaccine until the fever has settled for 48 hours.
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Systemic mast cell activation disorder
Systemic mast cell activation disorder is a rare condition where people have repeated allergic reactions. We would talk to your specialist, and you would still be able to have the vaccine. You may need to have your vaccine in a hospital.
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Pregnant or breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
All evidence so far has shown that the Pfizer vaccine is entirely safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is important pregnant women have the vaccine as COVID 19 can be serious in pregnancy. Women planning pregnancy should get the Pfizer vaccine as soon as they can. For more information,– Shared decision-making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy
If a pregnant woman has had Astra Zeneca for her first dose she can have Astra Zeneca for the second dose. However, Pfizer is preferred as we don’t have the evidence for safety in pregnancy for Astra Zeneca.
There is no evidence that the vaccine affects fertility.
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Bleeding disorder or receiving blood thinners
Being on a blood thinner or having a bleeding disorder may mean that you will bleed where the injection is given. In almost all cases this is not a problem and you may just need to press on the cotton wool for a little longer after the injection. If you are on warfarin we will need to make sure your INR is less than three.
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Myocarditis and pericarditis
Myocarditis/Pericarditis or inflammation of the heart is a rare side effect of the Pfizer injection. It seems to be more common in young men. If you have a history of one of the heart conditions below you need to make an appointment to see us. You will almost certainly be able to have the Pfizer vaccine but we may need to check with your heart specialist.
- Recent (i.e. within the past 6 months) or current inflammatory cardiac illness e.g., myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis
- Acute rheumatic fever or acute rheumatic heart disease
- People aged 12-29 years with dilated cardiomyopathy
- Complex or severe congenital heart disease including single ventricle (Fontan) circulation
- Acute decompensated heart failure
- Cardiac transplant recipients.
For more information Guidance on Myocarditis and Pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
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Immunocompromised
If you are immunocompromised or have a weaker immune system, you are more at risk if you get COVID 19. It is therefore very important that you get the vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for anyone 12 years and over. We are not certain if the vaccine will work as well in people who are immunocompromised. It is extra important to keep up with strategies like masks and social distancing to protect yourself. For more information
Shared decision-making guide for people with immunocompromise
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Prior COVID19 Vaccines
Be sure to let us know if you have had previous COVID 19 vaccines and which vaccine you had and whether you had any reaction to it.
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Capillary Leak syndrome
This is a very rare but serious condition. If you have had this condition you cannot have the Astra Zeneca vaccine. Let us know if you believe you have had capillary leak syndrome