Covid-19 Spring vaccination - your questions answered

Two London GPs and Clinical Advisors for London Vaccination Programme, answer questions and share trusted information about the spring COVID-19 vaccination for over 75s and why this is so important.

Why should I have a COVID-19 vaccination this spring?

Dr Oge Ilozue:

“Millions of people around the world have now received their COVID-19 vaccines which continue to show a strong safety profile with the health benefits greatly outweighing any risks.

Official statistics show us that older people, especially those over 75, are still the most likely to be severely ill and need to go into hospital for treatment or sadly die from COVID-19.

Ongoing monitoring shows that COVID-19 continues to cause severe illness, putting many in hospital, particularly older people and those with underlying medical conditions.

An October 2024 study from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe showed that COVID-19 vaccines prevented over half of COVID-19-related hospitalisations and over half of all severe outcomes, including death. These findings highlight again the power of COVID-19 vaccination to safeguard health, especially for the most vulnerable, including older people.”

Can the vaccine give me the virus?

Dr Tehseen Khan:

“No. COVID-19 vaccines are ‘inactivated’, meaning they do not contain any of the live virus, so you cannot catch the Covid virus from having the vaccine. But what it does do is give you just enough to trigger your body's own immune response or defence mechanism to produce antibodies to the vaccine.

But the vaccine may take two weeks to be effective, so if you catch COVID-19 in that timeframe you may become ill. That is why we encourage people to have their vaccinations as soon as they can.”

What about the side effects?

Dr Oge Ilouze:

“You might experience flu-like symptoms as a vaccinations side effect. But these are usually mild and show that your body is producing antibodies to protect itself.

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

There have been rare cases of inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) reported after COVID-19 vaccination. Most people who had this recovered following rest and simple treatments.”

How do I know these vaccines are safe?

Dr Teseen Khan:

“These vaccines have been rigorously tested, are constantly monitored and we know that the benefits of having the vaccinations far outweigh any risk. Unprecedented scientific collaborations allowed COVID-19 vaccine research, development, trials, testing and authorisations to be completed in record time to meet the need and it is still monitored.

But it’s completely understandable that people may have some concerns about whether it is safe or right for them to receive the vaccines.

If you do have questions or concerns, I encourage you to speak to a trusted healthcare professional. This can be your GP, nurse, pharmacist, health visitor or consultant, all of whom can provide evidence-based information.”

Book online at nhs.uk/bookcovid or call 119 free of charge.

Dr Oge Ilozue is a London GP and a Clinical Adviser for the London Vaccination Programme. 

Dr Teseen Khan is a London GP and Clinical Advisor for the London Vaccination Programme