About COVID-19 Vaccination:

People who have a COVID-19 vaccination have a much lower chance of getting sick from the disease called COVID-19.

There are three brands of vaccine in use in Australia. All are effective and safe. 

You can have: 

• AstraZeneca if you are 18 years or over 
• Pfizer or Moderna if you are 12 years or over. 

Pfizer or Moderna are preferred over AstraZeneca for adults under 60 years of age. 

Most people require two doses initially. This is called the primary course. 

People with severe immunocompromise may require a third primary dose to bring their immune response up to optimal levels (click HERE for more information).

People aged 18 years or over can have a booster dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca six months or more after their primary course, to prolong their protection against COVID-19 (click HERE for more information).

Medical experts have studied COVID-19 vaccines to make sure they are safe. Most side effects are mild. They may start on the day of vaccination and last for around 1-2 days. As with any vaccine or medicine, there may be rare and/or unknown side effects.

A very rare side effect of blood clotting (thrombosis) with low blood platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) has been reported following vaccination with the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. This is not seen after Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine. For further information on the risk of this rare condition, click HERE.

Myocarditis and pericarditis (heart inflammation) have been reported following Pfizer and Moderna. Most cases have been mild and people have recovered quickly. 

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects after vaccination that you are worried about. You may be contacted by SMS within the week after receiving the vaccine to see how you are feeling after vaccination.

Some people may still get COVID-19 after vaccination. So you must still follow public health precautions as required in your state or territory to stop the spread of COVID-19 including:

• keep your distance – stay at least 1.5 metres away from other people 
• washing your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitiser
• wear a mask
• stay home if you are unwell with cold or flu-like symptoms, and arrange to get a COVID-19 test.

Please note: Vaccination providers record all vaccinations on the Australian Immunisation Register, as required by Australian law. You can view your vaccination record online through your:

• Medicare account
• MyGov account
• MyHealthRecord account.

On the day you receive your vaccine:

Before you get vaccinated, tell the person giving you the vaccination if you:

• Have had an allergic reaction, particularly anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, to an ingredient of a COVID-19 vaccine, or to other vaccines or medications.
• Are immunocompromised. This means that you have a weakened immune system that may make it harder for you to fight infections and other diseases. You can still have a COVID-19 vaccine, but may wish to consider the best timing of vaccination depending on your underlying condition and/or treatment.