In this video, Ricky talks with Dr Rita about the COVID vaccine.

She answers the questions that he, and many of you, have.

Transcript

[Ricky and Dr Rita sit in a doctor’s office.]

Ricky:

Hi I’m Ricky and I work for the Council for Intellectual Disabilities.

Dr Rita:

Hi Ricky I’m a doctor. Dr Rita is my name and I’m a GP in Sydney.

Ricky:

I’ve come to talk with Dr Rita about the Coronavirus vaccine because there’s a lot of information out there and it can be quite confusing. Some people feel a bit frightened. Dr Rita is here to answer questions about the vaccine.

Dr Rita:

I’m glad I can help you today

Ricky:

Can you tell me about the coronavirus vaccine?

Dr Rita:

So the vaccine is given as an injection usually into the arm. Once you’ve had the vaccine, either you won’t catch coronavirus or if you do, you won’t get really sick from it.

Ricky:

Is there only one vaccine?

Dr Rita:

So, in Australia we’ve got two vaccines from two different companies. So Pfizer vaccine and Astra Zeneca vaccine.

Ricky:

Does everyone have to be vaccinated?

Dr Rita:

No, you don’t have to be vaccinated. It’s entirely up to you, your choice.

Ricky:

Why is the vaccine important?

Dr Rita:

If you have the vaccine, you are protected from being infected. Then you are less likely to infect someone else. The more people who have the vaccine, the more people will be protected from Coronavirus. When more people are vaccinated, it will be safer. We will be able to do the things we like and travel overseas.

Ricky:

Does it cost anything?:

Dr Rita:

No the vaccine is free for everybody in Australia.

Ricky:

What do I do if I want to get vaccinated?

Dr Rita:

The government has decided that the vaccine is to be given to different people at different times. The people most at risk of getting Covid are getting it first. Some people with disability are getting it first. You can go to the Vaccine Eligibility Checker on the Health Direct website to see if you can get the vaccine yet.

You can also talk to your doctor or the people who support you.

Ricky:

What happens when I go to get the vaccine?

Dr Rita:

So what you need to do is you need to make an appointment to have the vaccine. You can talk to your GP or the Coronavirus Vaccine Hotline. They can tell you where to have the vaccination done. The doctor will ask you for your medical history and if you have any allergies. Ask the doctor any questions you have. You need to give your consent to have the vaccine. This means you agree to the doctor giving you the vaccine.

Ricky:

Will the vaccination hurt?

Dr Rita:

The vaccination will feel like any other injection. It will feel like a small prick or scratch on your arm. Then you’ll wait in the waiting room for 15-20 minutes, just to make sure you feel OK.

Ricky:

Are there any side effects of the vaccine?

Dr Rita:

That’s a good question and you should always talk to your doctor about any side effects of any medication you’re taking. With the Coronavirus vaccine, usually you’ll get a sore arm, you might get for a few days feeling a bit head-achy or tired. But usually that will pass in a couple of days.

Ricky:

Is that everything then?

Dr Rita:

You need to have two doses of the vaccine for it to work properly. Whilst you’re at the doctors, you should make an appointment for the second dose of the vaccine. The timing of your second dose depends on which vaccine you get.

Ricky:

Where should people go if they want to find out more?

Dr Rita:

You can find out more information in Easy Read on the Health Direct website. Also you can call the Coronavirus hotline and they’ll be able to talk to you about the vaccine.

Ricky:

CID has more information at www.cid.org.au/covid-19