Dr Hilary discusses ‘minor’ side effects of booster vaccine
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A huge 15 million people have now received their Covid booster jab, which Dr Hilary described as “fabulous”. Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine, the TV doctor said: “We know that the protection that this gives you against symptomatic infection is 93 or 94 percent.” He continued: “Over 90 percent, that means if you have your jab by the 11th December, you have really good levels of protection for Christmas Day, for protecting yourself and members of your family.”
Dr Hilary urged people to come forward and have their booster, and other jabs if they have haven’t already had them, at which point Lorraine Kelly shared she’d had her booster.
Having previously received the AstraZeneca vaccine, Lorraine revealed she’d had the Moderna booster.
She said: “I was a teeny bit sore, I felt a little bit tired,” but joke, “That might have been the couple of drinks that I had as well.”
Dr Hilary replied: “Even if it isn’t the drinks, it’s a good thing because it means that your body is mounting an immune response.”
Explaining the side effects you may expect, he explained: “That of course will make you feel a little bit tired.
“You will have a sore arm because that’s where a reaction is occurring, which is a good thing, it means the vaccine is taken, and that feeling of tiredness lasts no more than a few hours, can last in some people for a couple of days, means that your body’s responding in a way we want it too.
“So those minor side effects are worth putting down as the price you pay to be protected against a horrible illness.”
Austria went into lockdown today for 20 days after rapidly rising Covid cases.
Here in the UK, Dr Hilary described the rising number of cases as “steady”.
He said: “We can only hope and keep our fingers crossed that the vaccination programme will protect us from those rising levels here in the UK.”
Alongside getting vaccinated, Dr Hilary recommends mask wearing.
He explained: “Many different studies, over 70 studies, from around the world have shown that mask wearing reduces cases studies by 53 percent.
“So we now have quantifiable evidence that wearing a mask in certain situations, if you’re in close proximity, particularly to strangers in unventilated places, it’s a good thing to do, as well as socially distancing and washing hands.
“We still need to do those things and not rely completely on vaccination.”
The National Booking Service is now open to people who are aged 40 to 49 for their booster jab.
Dr Hilary said: “If you had your primary course five months ago, you can now pre-book your appointment which you can have six months after your second jab.
“So you can pre-book now online or when six months has elapsed since your second jab you can go to a walk in centre – that’s in England.
“Slightly different in Northern Ireland and Scotland and Wales, but look online, see when you can book, and you’ll either be sent an appointment or you can pre-book or go to a walk in centre.”
From today, 16 and 17-year-olds are able to book in for their second jab.
Dr Hilary said: “That’s a good thing because they’ve got high rates of transmission and case numbers.
“If everybody behaves responsibly we can enjoy Christmas, see our families, and think about travel next year.”
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