Covid-19 vaccination: FAQs
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Covid-19 vaccination: FAQs (for people with specific conditions)

Are you undergoing some medical issues or have some specific body requirements ( eg:pregnancy, lactation) and wondering if Covid-19 vaccination is safe for you? We have got all your queries answered here:

I am unwell (stomach ache/headache), but do not have Coronavirus disease. Today I have a time slot to go for vaccination, can I go? 

If you feel fine, it is okay to take the vaccine. However, if you suspect that you have been in contact with someone who has now been detected positive for Coronavirus and if you have any such symptoms like high fever, a new continuous cough or change in smell or taste, then wait for 4 weeks after your symptoms started before booking a vaccine.

If anyone is taking medicines for illnesses like Cancer, Diabetes, Hypertension etc, can s/he take the Covid-19 vaccine?

Yes. Such persons are actually considered a high risk category because of the comorbidity or having a disease. They must get the vaccination. 

Who all should avoid the vaccination? 

If you were hospitalised for Covid-19 and have also undergone an antibody (proteins that help the body fight infections) therapy for the same, you need to wait for at least 90 days to get the vaccination. 

Antibody therapy is also used to treat certain other diseases like cancers or tumors. Such persons should consult their doctors on advice to take the vaccine or not. 

I am pregnant, is the vaccine safe for me? 

Yes, if you are pregnant, you might choose to be vaccinated after consulting your gynaecologist. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is still too early to say if the vaccine poses any high risks for pregnant women. More research is needed to identify the specific risks associated with the vaccine. 

The agency recommends that pregnant women who are at a higher risk to get the Coronavirus (eg: health workers) and also have a comorbid situation like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes or any other such condition, should get the vaccination after consulting their doctors. 

Preliminary studies do not indicate any negative effects of the vaccine on foetus development. 

However,  the US government’s central health agency, the CDC, suggests that the vaccine is relatively safe for pregnant women and is actually helpful in protecting the foetus by giving it the antibodies (proteins that help the body fight infections) to fight the virus, a recent study suggests. 

Some studies also suggest that pregnant women should wait until after they have given birth to get the vaccine if you do not have any comorbid condition and can avoid or control your exposures by wearing a mask, handwashing, and social distancing. 

I am breastfeeding, is the vaccine safe for me?

recent study published by the American Journal of Gynaecology, suggests that antibodies (proteins that help the body fight infections) from the vaccine are induced in the breast milk and passed on the baby after the mother gets vaccinated. However, a small number of people participated in the study and further studies are needed to establish the effect of vaccination on the infants through breastfeeding. 

I am trying to conceive, shall I get vaccinated? 

There is currently no study that suggests that any vaccines, including this recent Covid-19 vaccine, can cause fertility problems. 

When can kids get vaccinated?

Right now the scientists are conducting clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine on the kids. The researchers are still working on finding the right dose for kids. 

Can getting vaccinated affect any routine health checkups or blood tests? 

So far there have been reports of women’s mammograms showing false positive reports after they received the vaccination, a study published in American Journal of Roentgenology has said. 

The vaccinated women saw enlargement of lymph nodes in the armpit in their mammograms. Women are advised to wait four to six weeks from the date of getting the Covid-19 vaccination to undergo routine, screening mammograms. 

Can getting vaccinated affect any routine health checkups or blood tests? 

So far there have been reports of women’s mammograms showing false positive reports after they received the vaccination, a study published in American Journal of Roentgenology has said.


If someone is already taking medicines for some other disease can they take the vaccine?

Anyone taking a long term medicine for diseases such as Hypertension, High blood sugar, Thyroid disorders etc are actually considered a high risk category for Covid-19 because of their disease. Their immunity is comparatively lower than a healthy person and have a higher risk of catching the virus and falling severely sick. And so they must get the vaccination sooner than later. The medicines you take do not affect the efficacy of the vaccine.

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