FAQ for staff

The vaccine is safe. About 10 million people in the world have already received the Pfizer vaccine and 30,000 people received the vaccine in clinical trials without significant adverse events.

Some people may feel achy or have a temperature after the second dose.

There are no known significant long-term effects from the vaccine.

If you’re vaccinated, you’re protecting your family, friends, patients and the community. The vaccine isn’t a live vaccine so you can’t pass on any symptoms of the vaccine to people.

Vaccination is not mandatory but is strongly recommended to protect our patients, the community and our colleagues.

If you are a Barwon Health staff member,  you can click here to book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

If you can’t find a suitable time, please be aware that we will be opening additional clinics over the coming weeks and you will be notified via your Barwon Health email when this occurs.

Bookings for your second dose are invited via email at the appropriate time. An SMS reminder will also be sent.

Cancellations: If you are more than two hours late to attend your appointment time, your booking will be forfeited for the day and you will need to request a new appointment. If you are unable to attend your appointment, please call 4215 4444 or email vaccinations@barwonhealth.org.au and write ‘unable to attend’ in the subject line.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) released a statement about the AstraZeneca vaccine in response to evidence that it may be linked to a rare but serious side effect (1 in 250,000 people).

The side effect involves thrombosis, which is blood clotting, and thrombocytopenia, which is a low blood platelet count.

The risk of this side effect may be greater for people aged under 60 years, and ATAGI has advised that the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine in adults aged under 60 years.

You will not be able to choose which COVID-19 vaccine you are offered, unless you are under 60.
The initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines will be limited, and whichever vaccine is available will be first offered to and then more broadly to the rest of the adult community.

Prior to your vaccination appointment, click on the following links to read up on:

Information on the Pfizer vaccine

Information on the AstraZeneca vaccine

For more vaccine resources, click here.

The Barwon Health Community Vaccination Hub is located at the old Ford factory, North Shore Road, Norlane 3214.

There is parking available on-site and easy access to bus stops and public transport.

You should not attend a COVID-19 vaccination appointment if you:

• Are unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19.
• Are awaiting COVID-19 test results.
• Have tested positive with COVID-19 and you are in isolation.
• Are in quarantine.
• Are a close contact of someone with COVID-19.

If you fall into any of the above categories, please email vaccinations@barwonhealth.org.au or call 4215 4444. You may need to reschedule your appointment for vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines are not effective at treating COVID-19.

If you have had the flu vaccine in the 7 days before your COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please contact us. You may need to reschedule your appointment.

You are not required to test for COVID-19 before vaccination if you do not have a fever or any respiratory symptoms.

It is important that you receive two doses of your COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is administered at least three weeks apart, where the AstraZeneca vaccine is administered 12 weeks apart. Full protection against COVID-19 will not occur until about a week after your second dose.

You should bring the following to your COVID-19 vaccination appointment:

• Photo ID, if you have one.
• Medicare card, if you have one.
• Employee ID, proving that you work for your employer. Barwon Health staff should bring their photo ID badge.
• Information about any of your medical conditions, allergies, bleeding disorders or weakened immune system.
• Information about any medications you are taking.
• Information about any reactions you have had to any vaccine in the past.
• Name of your current GP/s and any specialist doctors you see.
• Please ensure you are wearing a face mask.

At your appointment, you will be able to discuss any questions you have about COVID-19 vaccination.

In some circumstances, it may be better to have a discussion with your healthcare provider about vaccination before making an appointment for vaccination.

You will receive the vaccine as an injection, most commonly into your upper arm muscle.

You must remain in the vaccination clinic for observation for at least 15 minutes after vaccination. Depending on your medical history, you may be asked to wait in the clinic for 30 minutes.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration considers information about possible side effects. For a vaccine to be registered for use in Australia, the benefits must outweigh the risks. All vaccines can cause side effects. Usually any side effects are mild and temporary.

Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines have reported temporary side effects typical of vaccines, such as:

• pain or redness at the injection site,
• mild to moderate fever,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• muscle aches, and
• chills

These side effects are more common after the second dose.

A small number of people may have more severe side effects – defined as side effects affecting a person’s ability to do their normal daily activities. These side effects usually only last a day or two after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

It is possible that after the receiving the vaccine that you will get some COVID-19-type symptoms. If you just have pain or redness at the injection site, then you are able to continue to work. If you have a fever, temperature, tiredness, headache, muscle aches, chills or any other symptoms that can be COVID-type symptoms in the 1-2 days after having the vaccine then it is most likely a side-effect. However while you have symptoms should not come to work. If you experience any side-effects from the vaccine that result in you failing your attestation, please contact the Infection Prevention Service.

If you have any of the symptoms outlined above that subside within 1-2 days following receiving the vaccine, then you are able to safely return to work without needing to get a COVID swab.

If the symptoms do not subside after two days or your symptoms start to include respiratory type symptoms (including cough, sore throat and runny nose), then please remain at home and get a COVID swab.

If you experience a reaction after your COVID-19 vaccine that concerns you, please contact your usual GP. If you are unable to contact your GP, you can contact StaffCare on 4215 3220.

Adverse vaccine side-effects should be reported to assist with the national monitoring of vaccine safety. To submit a report, visit safevac.org.au/

AHPRA & National Boards has released a position statement in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine program.

Many registered health practitioners will have a vital role in COVID-19 vaccination programs and in educating the public about the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure high participation rates.

Any promotion of anti-vaccination statements or health advice which contradicts the best available scientific evidence or seeks to actively undermine the national immunisation campaign (including via social media) is not supported by National Boards and may be in breach of the codes of conduct and subject to investigation and possible regulatory action.

Please review the full AHPRA & National Boards position statement here.