Vaccination of frontline workers as part of the initial rollout continues today with some having reported feeling side effects in the days after getting their coronavirus vaccine, but nothing adverse, Fiji’s Ministry of Health says.
MOH Head of Vaccination taskforce Dr Rachel Devi confirmed receiving reports of side effects from some of the 5653 frontline workers who had been vaccinated as of yesterday afternoon.
“We have not seen any adverse events, though we have seen side effects such as simple things like fever, chills, joint pains, headache, muscle aches, a bit of nausea and vomiting, but nothing major that required individuals to be admitted because of the vaccination itself,” Dr Rachel said.
Side effects are norm, she says, similar to effects children experience when they get vaccinated which passes within 24 to 48 hours, and show that the vaccines are doing its job.”
“These reactions are basically showing that the immune system is being built up (the soldiers of your body). For these instances’ individuals being vaccinated could take paracetamol for the fevers and pain, and good hydration. Some do not feel a thing as well.”
In a statement, this week, dated 17 March 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledged actions taken by some European Union countries to temporarily suspend the use of this particular vaccine whilst some others, continued using the same vaccine, and in closing the same statement maintained: “At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue. “
