Welcome to your vaccination day

The vaccine is the medicine that is given to train the immune system in order to allow the body to effectively fight infections and the vaccination refers to the administration of a vaccine (in this case, through an injection).

COVID-19 vaccines are effective in protecting against infections and most specifically against severe COVID-19 disease and death. For those people who have already been vaccinated, the vaccines have shown over 80% protection against severe disease.

One of our medically trained staff will give you your vaccine. By law, only medical practitioners whose practice includes giving injections can give the COVID-19 vaccine - for example, dentists, paramedics, registered nurses, enrolled nurses and doctors.

The vaccine is given as an injection, usually in the arm. If you've already had a vaccination in the arm this season (for example, against the flu), it's best to get the COVID-19 injection on the other arm.

The person giving you the injection will have been trained on local and international clinical guidelines on safe administration of COVID-19 vaccines. These guidelines come from the National Department of Health, World Health Organisation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

These guidelines state that:

• Medical staff do not have to wear gloves when giving the vaccination.
• The packaging for the needle will be open by the time you get to your station (the place where you'll get the vaccination).
• The used syringe will be disposed of safely.

One or two, depending on the vaccine you will be getting.

For some vaccines, like Pfizer-BioNTech, you will need two doses (two injections). For others, like Johnson & Johnson's Janssen (J&J/Janssen) vaccine, you need only one dose. Our medical staff will let you know which vaccine you are getting. They'll also tell you if and when you need to come back for a second injection.

The medical practitioner will fill in a vaccination card for you to take home and/or that will be sent electronically to you. They will then take you to an observation area, where you will be monitored for at least 15 minutes. They will let you know when you can leave or if you need to stay longer.

It takes time for your body to build protection after the vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Please delay your vaccination if:

• You currently have COVID-19
• You are in the 10-day COVID-19 recovery period
• You have been in hospital with COVID-19 in the last 28 days
• You have received any other vaccination in the last 14 days

Follow the medical advice you have been given if:

• You have been advised by a medical doctor not to get vaccinated
• You had a severe or immediate allergic reaction (within four hours) to your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Yes. Even after you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should still keep taking precautions in public places in line with guidelines applicable to vaccinated persons. Keep wearing a mask, stay at least 1.5 metres apart from others, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and wash or sanitise your hands often.

Please give us your feedback in the post-vaccination assessment tool on the Discovery COVID-19 Vaccination Navigator. We will send you reminders to do this.

This will help us give you support and guidance if you are experiencing mild, moderate or severe side effects - including how to manage these, and when you should consult your doctor.

Your feedback will also give us important information we can use to:

• Compare the types of vaccines members are getting and how effective they are.
• Track any side effects and COVID-19 infections among Discovery members who have been vaccinated.
• Contribute to ongoing research on COVID-19 infections and vaccinations. Note that none of your personal information will be shared only aggregated and anonymized data can be share for this purpose.