The Cypriot authorities have published detailed instructions for those who will be vaccinated against COVID-19 – recall that the vaccination campaign in the country began on Sunday. In particular, the document posted on the official website of the government press service describes the mechanism of action of the vaccine and warns of possible side effects.

Doctors have reminded Cypriots that the vaccine does not begin to work immediately after injection – it takes several weeks to develop immunity. Vaccination is also not one hundred percent effective – the likelihood of illness remains, but in the case of infection the disease will proceed in a much milder form. With this in mind, it is necessary to continue to wear a mask after the shot, keep a social distance and observe personal hygiene rules.

Two doses of vaccination are required for maximum protection against the serious course of the disease – therefore, you should definitely make an appointment for the second one after the first stage of vaccination.

Potential side effects after the vaccine are usually mild and do not last long. They can be:

Local reactions: mild pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site.
General reactions: shivering, fever, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache, nausea, muscle and joint pain, and general discomfort.

Symptoms usually do not last longer than a week – otherwise, as well as in case of serious deterioration of health, it is recommended to consult a family physician.

The presence of side effects from the first dose of the vaccine is not a contraindication for the introduction of a second dose. Physicians emphasize: The coronavirus vaccine cannot cause coronavirus!