Whilst it is not clear yet whether the Pfizer vaccine will protect against all variants of the virus, there is some evidence that it gives good protection for some. Vaccine manufacturers are investigating the production of future booster shots that may assist with protecting against specific variants.
No, you won’t get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any live virus.
No, you will not be contagious once you have had the vaccine. At present, there is not enough information to know for certain if you still transmit the virus if you get COVID-19 after being vaccinated. There are promising signs that vaccination is likely to reduce the chance of transmission.
Yes, there is a chance you might still get COVID-19 after being fully immunised, however if you do, it is likely that your symptoms will be much less severe.
No, the vaccine is not a live vaccine – it does not contain any weakened (or inactivated) virus.
The vaccine will not affect your DNA. The vaccine mRNA does not enter the cell nucleus where our DNA is held, and it is broken down soon after giving the cell its instructions.
The Pfizer vaccine is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. The messenger RNA instructs cells in our body to make a harmless piece of protein called the viral spike (S) protein. This spike protein is the one found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19 (the SARS-CoV-2 virus). The spike protein helps the virus
Unfortunately, there is not yet definitive information on how long the vaccine may ultimately protect against COVID-19. Pfizer reports it has been effective to at least 6 months. They are continuing to monitor trial participants. There is some evidence to suggest that the immunity may last at least 8 months. It is possible that yearly
If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction, even if it was not severe, to any ingredient in the vaccine, you should not get the vaccine. Please talk to your health professional.If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of the vaccine, you should discuss this with
To be fully protected you must get 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The second dose should be at least 21 days (3 weeks) after the first dose. You may not be fully protected until 7 days after the second dose.Whilst it is best to take the second dose 3 weeks after the first, if
Clinical trials found the Pfizer vaccine to be very safe. Medsafe, the NZ government’s medicines safety authority, have also assessed the vaccine and deemed it safe and fit for purpose. However, like any vaccine, there are some potential side-effects to the vaccine. They are mainly mild or moderate and should only last a few days
In placebo-controlled clinical trials the Pfizer vaccine was found to be on average 95% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection for people 16 years of age and over. There is also some evidence that the vaccine may be even more effective in real world use compared to the clinical trials. However, like any vaccine, the
