People across Australia are being offered the COVID-19 vaccination. If you have made an appointment to receive your first COVID-19 vaccination, you may be looking for more info about what will happen on the day. Read on to find out more!

Booking in

When you arrive at the clinic, you should wear a mask and sanitise your hands. At the reception desk, you will need to provide your name and date of birth. It is helpful if you have your appointment letter with you as this will help to speed up your registration. Once you are booked in, you will be directed to a waiting area.

Pre-injection questions

Once you have been called through to the treatment room, the doctor or nurse will ask you some questions. They will confirm your name and DOB to make sure they are dealing with the correct person. They will then ask you if you have any allergies and if you have recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection. You must answer these questions honestly as they will allow the clinician to make an informed decision about your suitability to receive the vaccine.

Injection

There are three types of COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Australia. The vaccine provider or your doctor may offer any one of the three available vaccines.

These are:

• AstraZeneca
• Pfizer
• Moderna

The clinician will ask you to choose which arm you would like to receive the vaccination in. It is a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothes so you can easily roll up your sleeve when the time comes. It doesn't matter which arm you choose to get the shot. You can ask your health care provider for help if you are having trouble deciding. You may wish to have the injection in your non-dominant arm so you are less affected by any soreness that occurs in the days following the jab.

Post-injection side effects

The most common side effects you might experience after getting a vaccination are soreness and redness at the injection site. You may also feel generally unwell or have a fever, headache, or rash. In most cases, side effects from the COVID-19 vaccination are mild and short-lived. If these side effects do not resolve, you should get back in touch with your GP or the clinic you were registered at.

If you have any further questions about COVID-19 vaccination appointments, you should contact your local medical centre today. A doctor or nurse will be happy to provide further advice and information.