About the Vaccine
Understanding the SCIENCEVACCINATION. WHAT. WHY?
“Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting you against harmful diseases, before you come into contact with them.”
A COVID-19 vaccine reduces the risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19. The vaccine works with the body’s natural immune system to build protection by creating antibodies and immune memory. If exposed to COVID-19, the body remembers the virus and acts quickly to attack and fight the infection.
Weighing the Benefits and Risks
Vaccine Development and Safety
COVID-19 vaccines were available quickly because of:
- decades of science and technology advancements in vaccine development,
- new dedicated research, administrative support and funding, and
- a new level of international collaboration.
Scientists follow careful procedures when developing and reviewing vaccines.
Vaccines are continuously monitored for safety and side effects. (IMPACT - the Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive network, administered by the Canadian Paediatric Society, has been monitoring childhood immunizations for more than 20 years).
The COVID-19 vaccines have no live virus and cannot cause Covid-19.
COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be extremely successful in greatly reducing the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Children 6 Months to 11 Years
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in children are:
sore throat
body aches
headache
loss of smell
dry cough
nausea
fatigue
loss of taste
runny nose
fever or chills
diarrhea
trouble breathing
- Children are given a smaller dose of the vaccine, to minimize side effects while still providing protection.
- Mild reactions to vaccines usually go away by themselves within hours or days.
- Severe allergic reactions are very rare and treatable.
- Vaccinating children who have already had COVID-19 provides stronger and longer-lasting protection.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine:
- ZHelps children’s immune systems respond to the virus more quickly.
- ZKeeps children from interruptions in their schooling and activities.
- ZReduces the chance that children will transmit the virus to more vulnerable family members and friends.
- ZProtects others in the community.
- ZHelps stop the virus from mutating into new variants.
If You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding
“Pregnant women experience changes to their immune systems that can make them more vulnerable to respiratory viruses.”
Pregnant women are more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than their non-pregnant peers by…
%
Reduce your risk
Once infected, pregnant women are at increased risk of hospitalization and ICU admission, preterm birth, emergency caesarean delivery, stillbirth [2-5], postnatal depression, and maternal death.
Benefits
The benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the risks.
Protect your baby
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine may help pass anti COVID-19 antibodies on to baby.
No live virus
The vaccines do not contain live virus, so do not pose a risk to the baby.
No safety concerns
Millions of pregnant women have received COVID-19 vaccines, and no safety concerns have been identified related to their pregnancies or the health of their babies.
No effects on fertility
There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine affects future fertility.
Minor side effects
Side effects may occur and include mild to moderate fever, headache, and muscle aches. Those who develop a fever after vaccination can take acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is safe to use during pregnancy and does not interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine.