by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Now that the vaccine rollout has started in St. Kitts-Nevis, questions are being raised about the side effects of taking the jab.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws gave a snapshot of some of the common side effects that can be expected after taking the vaccine.
“Based on the data and the science, these are the common or the most common post-vaccine symptoms to date. So persons who receive this vaccine may complain of pain, tenderness at the injection site, a general feeling of being unwell, feeling feverish, having a headache, joint or muscle, and probably a loss or reduction in appetite.”
Dr. Laws speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Task Force, COVID-19 Consultation event on Tuesday, February 23 at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Some 70 people took the first jab of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the Newtown Health Center on Monday, February 22, including some Cabinet Officials and Medical personnel.
Dr. Laws said she had started contacting some of the people who received the vaccine on Monday (February 22).
“About 70 persons received this vaccine at the Newtown Health Center and so when I woke up this morning I started making calls to persons who would have received the same. Quite a bit of persons said I’m fine, did you really give me something yesterday? Others complained of tenderness or pain at the injection site. Some said they felt cold last night, I think about two or three persons complained of experiencing chills. About four or five said I had a mild fever but I took two paracetamol tablets and I was fine. Some complained of a little feeling of fatigue or malaise this morning, some said I just had some body aches and pains. One particular person said I’m experiencing a mild headache. And I think most or all the persons who were vaccinated yesterday all went to work this morning. So that just gives you an overview of the post-vaccination symptoms being experienced by our own people who were vaccinated yesterday.”
As previously reported a database to capture any side-effects from vaccinated people is being developed and the expected time of observation as noted by Dr. Laws is a minimum of three months.
