Mythbusting information about the COVID-19 vaccine

Last updated 9 February 2022

People with disability have had a difficult few years, especially after the shocking news that the Federal Government had re-prioritised the vaccine rollout to older Australians over other medically vulnerable people.

Key points:

There is a lot of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines doing the rounds on social media that you need to be wary of
Only get your information from trusted sources, like the Government Health website
Use the Federal Government Vaccine Eligibility Checker to see if you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination

As the bungled COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, the creation of misinformation and myths around the different coronavirus vaccinations have grown to a huge level, leaving many people apprehensive and nervous about getting the jab.

Cleaning up concerns around “vaccine hesitancy” and misinformation is vital so that people with disability can be better protected against COVID-19, feel comfortable getting the vaccine, and understand and can provide consent when getting the vaccine.

At the moment, there are four COVID-19 vaccines available – AstraZeneca (70.4 percent efficacy), Pfizer (95 percent efficacy), Moderna (94 percent efficacy) and Novavax (90 percent efficacy).

You can find out if you are eligible for a vaccine using the Federal Government Vaccine Eligibility Checker, which can also be used to book an appointment at a location near you.

So, what myths are out there?

Myth: If I get a vaccine, I will have a bad side effect

Fact: While there is a likelihood you may experience a side effect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, most Australians won’t experience too many side effects, if any at all.

As a person with disability, it is important to talk to your doctor first before getting the vaccine. Depending on your disability, you want to make sure you will be safe when getting the vaccine and that it won’t interact with any medication you are taking.

The side effects you could get from the COVID-19 vaccine will be no different from the side effects you could get from the influenza vaccine.

The Department of Health says common reactions to the COVID-19 vaccination can include:

Pain, swelling or redness on the needle area
A mild fever
Headache

These reactions will only last a day or so. So if these issues continue for longer, visit your doctor. Additionally, if you have more severe reactions, immediately contact your doctor or go to hospital.

The way the different vaccines work are different – for example, the AstraZeneca vaccine is stronger in the first dose, so you are likely to experience symptoms on the first dose rather than the second dose. The Pfizer vaccine is stronger on the second dose, so you are more likely to experience less symptoms on the first dose and more symptoms on the last dose.

For more information about getting the vaccine, visit the Government Health website.

Myth: The vaccine will give me autism

Fact: No vaccines have been linked to giving people autism, this includes the COVID-19 vaccines. This is false information that has been floating around on the internet with little evidence to back it.

Anti-vax groups have disseminated this information for years, so it is no wonder when the COVID-19 vaccine was released that this false information would begin circulating again.

The current COVID-19 vaccines available were trialled on all types of people, including people with disability and people with autism. They experienced the same type of symptoms and effects as anyone else.

Additionally, there are no vaccines that make autism “worse” in people with autism.

It is important as many people as possible get vaccinated and this includes people with autism and the people close to them. Austistic people are a part of a vulnerable group because of their likelihood of being infected. Reasons for this include living in group homes with others and understanding and maintaining hygiene and social distancing protocols.

Myth: AstraZeneca is dangerous and will give me blood clots

Fact: AstraZeneca is safe for people over the age of 60 and generally pretty safe for people under 60.

AstraZeneca has been in the firing line of the media and the public following reports of blood clots in people who received this vaccine.

However, the possibility of a blood clot is rare compared to other daily common medications that people use in everyday life. In Australia, the likelihood of a blood clot from AstraZeneca is 1 in 88,000 people, or worldwide, four to six people in every million.

The recommendation for the Pfizer vaccine for people under the age of 60 is just the Federal Government being cautious and people with disability should not take that as a sign that the AstraZeneca vaccine is unsafe.

If you have a history of blood clots, the Government recommends you have the Pfizer vaccine. If you have a compromised immune system, you will be safe with either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine.

Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland, and Medical Director and Principal Investigator at Q-Pharm, Nucleus Network, says that all therapeutic agents, medications and drugs, have risk and possible negative outcomes, and that the risks linked to the vaccine pale in comparison to other drugs.

He says, “While a definitive link is yet to be established, it seems the likelihood of a relationship between rare clotting issues and the AstraZeneca vaccine has increased with increasing numbers being reported.

“These events are still very rare but seem to be more common in younger people… Overall it still appears the benefits outweigh the risks, however the difference between the benefits and risks is less in younger people who are at lower risk of more significant consequences of COVID-19.

“…When assessing the risks and benefits we also have to keep in mind the risks of not vaccinating.”

Additionally, you’re actually more likely to develop a brain blood clot if you develop COVID-19 compared to the chance of it developing as a result of the vaccine. Research from the University of Oxford found that the risk of a rare blood clot, known as cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), after developing COVID-19 is around 100 times greater than normal. About several times higher than it is after getting a vaccination.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine development was rushed and won’t be safe or effective

Fact: There are a large number of reasons why the vaccines were created so quickly, here are just a few.

The process for making COVID-19 vaccines, like Pfizer and Moderna, has been available for years, so creating the current coronavirus vaccine process was able to be done early into the pandemic.

A lot of vaccine technologies developed for different viral diseases continue to be worked on or modified even after those diseases are under control or disappear. These already developed vaccines are scientists’ attempts at preparing and predicting future pandemics, described as Disease X, so the vaccine technology can then be used and modified to combat whatever threat is next, like COVID-19.

Many different bodies were working together to get the vaccine created. China shared important data about the virus that scientists were able to work with to create the vaccine.

Additionally, all of the steps required for an organisation that develops vaccines were adhered to, the reason it may have been quicker than normal is because the timetable of these steps were overlapping to get that important data quicker.

However, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) never “fast tracked” approval and went through all the required processes to make sure the available vaccines are safe for us.

Lastly, governments provided a LOT of funding and advance payments to vaccine developers to get these vaccines ready and on the market, this is not the usual process for the creation of vaccines which usually take years to decades in part due to funding availability.

Myth: I already had COVID-19, I don’t need a vaccine

Fact: People that have had COVID-19 can still get reinfected. Getting the vaccine makes it not only safe for yourself, but for others around you.

There is also strong evidence to suggest that if you get the vaccine and then contract COVID-19, your symptoms will be greatly reduced in severity.

Of course, the protection you get from a vaccine will vary from person to person, but it is important to put these protective measures in place.

If you haven’t had COVID-19 yet, you will likely not want it. Not only because the disease can be deadly, but many people that get the virus end up experiencing symptoms long after they are no longer infected. Some have experienced fatigue, breathlessness and chest pain for more than a year after they were originally infected.

Myth: The vaccine will give you COVID-19

Fact: NOPE. The vaccines that have been approved for use in Australia do not contain any form of the live virus. You simply cannot get COVID-19 from a vaccine.

If you get the COVID-19 vaccine, you may experience flu-like symptoms as a reaction to the vaccine. However, you will not contract COVID-19.

Myth: Studies online prove I am right about my COVID-19 beliefs

Fact: A lot of “dis” and “mis” information is travelling around on social media, on the internet, and by people you may follow, like family, friends, social media influencers and sometimes politicians.

The University of Melbourne says there are two types of false information:

Disinformation – purposely made with false information by people in bad faith that blames racial groups and Governments for the virus
Misinformation – incorrect information spread innocently by people, like misconstrued understanding of COVID-19 or directions and information

Usually this information is shared on social media and can include, or cite, studies that are usually not peer-reviewed or are completely fake. Many of these fake studies are found to be created by anti-vaccination groups, political groups or state agents.

If you read something online, you need to stop yourself from spreading that information further and fact check it first.

There are many ways you can do this, however, the best source of COVID-19 information is on the Federal Government Health website.

Myth: I got the COVID-19 vaccine, so I don’t need to get the flu shot

Fact: The COVID-19 vaccine does not protect you from the influenza virus. COVID-19 and the flu are different viruses and work in different ways.

Just as the influenza vaccination doesn’t protect you against COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccination doesn’t protect you from the influenza virus.

The Federal Government says it is important to get the influenza vaccination, with Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nick Coatsworth, explaining, “We’re entering flu season and…one of the biggest messages we have…to the public is get your flu vaccination.”

If you get the flu vaccination, you may need to wait a couple weeks before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, the Government is recommending that people can get the flu vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine within two weeks of each other.

Myth: I heard the vaccines alter your DNA

Fact: The vaccines do not change your DNA.

A vaccine instructs or teaches your body how to fight against COVID-19.

For example, a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine will teach your cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response that is very specific to COVID-19.

Myth: If everyone else gets vaccinated, then I don’t need to get vaccinated

Fact: Waiting for a herd immunity isn’t a safe option, especially as COVID-19 is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Additionally, if you don’t get vaccinated and others don’t get vaccinated, then how will we reach herd immunity? To get to herd immunity, Australia needs to have mass vaccination.

It is better to be part of the solution, get vaccinated, and help develop the herd immunity in place of those who are waiting to get vaccinated.

There is no herd immunity if people don’t roll up their sleeve.

Now I know the facts, what next?

Firstly, talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to get the vaccine. In most cases for people with disability, it will be.

You can use the Federal Government Vaccine Eligibility Checker to find out if you are eligible as well as find a location that is providing vaccinations and make a booking.

Ask family and friends for help if you need transport to your vaccination appointment. Or if you live in a disability residential care facility, talk to your provider about vaccination options.

To view more answers to false information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the Department of Health website.

What questions about the COVID-19 vaccines do you want answered? Tell us in the comments below.