COVID-19 Advice & Updates (English)

Long Covid

Adult Cardiorespiratory Enhanced and Responsive Service, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Post COVID-19 patient information pack.

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Information pack for patients who have had COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms.

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

How to conserve your energy—practical advice for people during and after having COVID-19.

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

COVID-19: the road to recovery activity planner.

Mental Health Foundation

How to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.

General

UK Government Advice: 

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus 

COVID-19 Vaccines:

COVID-19 vaccination: what to expect after vaccination

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-what-to-expect-after-vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination: why you are being asked to wait

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait

COVID-19 vaccination: guide for older adults

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-guide-for-older-adults 

COVID-19 vaccination: women of childbearing age, currently pregnant or breastfeeding

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-women-of-childbearing-age-currently-pregnant-planning-a-pregnancy-or-breastfeeding 

Test & Trace and the COVID-19 App:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works 

 Mental Health & Wellbeing:

https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---mental-health 

Coronavirus Guidance

Coronavirus Summary Graphic

Coronavirus Self-care Graphic

Six Ways to Improve Your Wellbeing

Guidance on Mental Health & Wellbeing with COVID-19

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

The following Q&As have been developed in response to commonly asked questions from the community and via webinars run by OneJain and it’s member organisations. 

Please note that all answers are given for information purposes only and do not substitute professional medical advice. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is correct and up-to-date, the data on COVID-19 is changing rapidly and therefore this cannot be guaranteed. This information was last reviewed and updated by the Jain Health Initiative Team on 7th Jan 2021.

Please consult a healthcare professional, such as your GP, if you have any concerns or questions, in particular for those that are concerned about COVID-19 vaccine due to pre-existing medical conditions. 

How will I know when it is my turn to have the vaccine?

The NHS will contact you and invite you to book an appointment when it’s your turn. You may receive a phone call from your GP practice, but you may also be contacted by email, text message or by letter. So it’s useful to keep an eye out to make sure you receive the message (for example if you have a mobile phone but don’t typically use text messages). 

If your contact details have changed lately, now is a good time to make sure your GP practice has the most up to date information. Try to do this via the GP website, app or by email to avoid burdening the phone lines. 

Please be patient and wait to be contacted by the NHS - they will let you know when it is your turn. 

 Please see these web pages for further information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus-guidance/coronavirus-vaccine/)

Where are vaccines taking place?

Vaccinations will take place at one of the following settings:

• - at a hospital

• - in the community – through GPs and pharmacists

• - in specially designated vaccination centres.

If you can't travel to get a vaccine, you should still be contacted. The NHS is working on special arrangements for people who are housebound.

Please see these web pages for further information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

Is the vaccine recommended for people with long-term conditions?

Yes, the vaccine will actively be offered to adults with the following conditions, as they may be at a higher risk from COVID-19: 

• a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)

• diabetes

• dementia

• a heart problem

• a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma

• a kidney disease

• a liver disease

• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as HIV infection, a steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)

• rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis

• having had an organ transplant

• having had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

• neurological or muscle-wasting condition

• a severe or profound learning disability

• a problem with your spleen, e.g sickle cell disease, or having had your spleen removed

• are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above)

• are severely mentally ill

 All people who are in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable group will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Whether you are offered the vaccine in the first phase may depend on the severity of your condition. Your GP will be able to advise on whether you are eligible and answer questions related to pre-existing medical conditions and taking the vaccine.

Please see this web page for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-guide-for-older-adults 

Is the vaccine required for individuals who have previously had COVID-19 infection?

Yes, people who have had COVID-19 infection are still recommended to have the vaccine due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, although the rates reported so far are very low.

This is because it is not known how long antibodies made in response to natural infection persist and whether immunisation could offer more protection. If antibodies have already been made to the disease following natural infection, receiving COVID-19 vaccine would be expected to boost any pre-existing antibodies. 

Please see this web page for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-programme-guidance-for-healthcare-practitioners 

Can the COVID-19 vaccine be given to people with a history of allergy to a medicine, food, other vaccine or insect sting? 

Yes, people who have had allergic reactions to a medicine (e.g. penicillin), food (e.g. nuts), other vaccine (e.g. flu vaccine) or to an insect sting can still receive the COVID-19 vaccine, even if the allergy was serious.

COVID-19 vaccine should not be given to those who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to any components of the COVID-19 vaccine or their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains polyethylene glycol (PEG), which is from a group of known allergens found in medicines, household goods and cosmetics. Known allergy to PEG is extremely rare but people with this allergy can instead receive the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine which does not contain PEG. 

All vaccinators will have the training they need to deal with any rare cases of allergic reactions, and all venues will be equipped to care for people who need it – just like with any other vaccine. 

 This advice was updated on 30th December 2020 following a detailed review of the data related to allergic reactions from the trials and initial rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Please see these web pages for further information:
https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/covid-19-advice/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-and-allergies/

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/advising-individuals-with-allergies-on-their-suitability-for-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine/ 

Does the vaccine contain any animal products? Is it suitable for vegans/vegetarians?

One has to consider two issues to determine whether a vaccine is vegetarian/vegan: does it contain animal products and whether it was tested on animals as part of its development

The Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any animal products or egg. Further details on the ingredients of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are available at this web page:

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/excipients-information-for-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine/

A similar page for the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine is expected to be published shortly. The manufacturer’s information indicates that it does not contain any animal products.

All vaccines (and, indeed, all modern medicines) have been tested on animals as part of their development process – indeed it is usually a strict regulatory requirement before anyone can start testing them on humans. As such, all COVID-19 vaccines – including the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine – have been tested on animals.

For a nuanced discussion of the topic: “Are vaccines vegan?”, please see the following webpage:

https://www.veganfriendly.org.uk/health-fitness/vaccines/

Does the vaccine interact with any medications?

There is currently no data to suggest that there are interactions between the COVID-19 vaccines and other medication. 

A gap of 7 days between the COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine is generally advised (for example the flu jab or hepatitis jab). 

Reference: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-programme-guidance-for-healthcare-practitioners 

What are the side-effects of the vaccine? 

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild and short-term, and not everyone gets them. 

Even if you do have symptoms after the first dose, you still need to have the second dose. Although you may get some protection from the first dose, having the second dose will give you the best protection against the virus causing a serious infection. 

Very common side effects include: 

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1-2 days after the vaccine

• feeling tired

• headache

• general aches, or mild flu-like symptoms

Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection. An uncommon side effect is swelling of the glands. You can rest and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. 

These symptoms normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, call NHS 111. If you do seek advice from a doctor or nurse, make sure you tell them about your vaccination 

Please see this web page for further information: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-what-to-expect-after-vaccination/what-to-expect-after-your-covid-19-vaccination 

Will a COVID-19 vaccine change my DNA?

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines such as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the mRNA cannot affect or interact with our DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work with the body’s natural defences to safely develop immunity to disease.

Please see this web page for further information: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html 

Can I catch COVID-19 from the vaccine?

You cannot catch COVID-19 from the vaccine but it is possible to have caught COVID-19 and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment. 

The most important symptoms of COVID-19 are the recent onset of any of the following: 

• a new continuous cough

• a high temperature

• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).

Although a mild fever can occur within a day or two of vaccination, if you have any other COVID symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test. 

Please see this web page for further information: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-what-to-expect-after-vaccination/what-to-expect-after-your-covid-19-vaccination 

What happens after I’ve had the vaccine? Do I still need to follow restrictions and stay at home? 

You will have to receive 2 doses of the vaccine to be fully protected. When you go for your first dose, you'll receive a record card with the date of your next appointment. This will be between 3 weeks and 12 weeks following your first dose. You shouldn't attend this appointment if you're self-isolating or you have coronavirus symptoms. 

While you can go about your day-to-day activities as soon as you feel well enough to do so, that doesn't mean everything goes back to normal. It takes a few weeks for your immune system to respond to the vaccine so you won’t be protected straight away.

We do not yet know whether the vaccine will stop you from catching and passing on the virus, but we do expect it to reduce this risk. So, it is still important to follow the guidance in your local area to protect those around you and:

• practise social distancing

• wear a face covering

• wash your hands regularly

• follow the guidance in your area.

 While you can't catch coronavirus from the vaccine, that's not to say you won't have got coronavirus before you receive the vaccine or in the short period after before the vaccine takes effect. So you should still self-isolate and get a test if you get any coronavirus symptoms in the period after your vaccination.

Please see these  web pages for further information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-what-to-expect-after-vaccination 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus-guidance/coronavirus-vaccine/

Why has the interval between the first and second dose of the vaccine been extended? 

The UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed a longer time frame between first and second doses of the vaccine so that more people can get their first dose quickly, and because the evidence shows that one dose still offers a high level of protection. 

The new medical advice is that the second dose of the vaccine remains effective when given up to 12 weeks after the first dose, and should be given towards the end of this 12 week period. While you will need two doses of the vaccine to get the best long-term protection from the virus, you will still have a significant level of protection at 22 days after you received the first dose.

This decision will allow the maximum benefit for the most people in the shortest possible time and will help save lives. 

It is supported by the British Society for Immunology and further details can be found at the following web page: 

https://www.immunology.org/policy-and-public-affairs/briefings-and-position-statements/COVID-19-vaccine-dosing-schedules?utm_source=Communications%2C 

Will the vaccines work against the new COVID-19 variant circulating in the UK? 

All viruses mutate constantly – this is a standard part of virus’ evolution. 

The new strain of virus (called VOC-202012/01) that is increasing in prevalence in the UK does contain mutations that could change a small part of the spike protein. The spike protein is the key the virus uses to unlock the doorway to our body’s cells, particularly the cells in our lungs. 

However, the vaccines train the immune system to attack several different parts of the virus, so even though part of the spike protein has mutated, the vaccines should still work.  

Scientists are in the process of confirming that the vaccine will indeed protect people from the new variant – we should know the results in a few weeks.

Please see this web page for further information:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55388846

Do any foods, herbs or ayurvedic remedies protect against COVID-19? 

There is no evidence that food, herbs, dietary supplements or ayurvedic remedies which claim to ‘boost immunity’ are effective at preventing or treating COVID-19. 

However, it is important to eat a healthy diet and maintain an active lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Please see these web pages for further information: 

https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---healthy-diet 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55318095