“I am not foolish. I am taking the Pfizer booster jab. I am hoping that it will enable me to live a healthier life during this COVID time.”
Those were the words of an outgoing adult and confident Anguillian woman, speaking as audibly as possible. She spoke to The Anguillian newspaper on Tuesday, November 16, as she joined a number of adult women and men to take the Pfizer booster shot at the expansive Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium.
Those just vaccinated had already taken the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered earlier in the year. The Pfizer vaccine was received by the Government of Anguilla some three weeks ago, from the UK Government, to be given to 12-17 year-old children. Most, if not all, of them have so far taken the Pfizer jab, supported particularly by their parents.
Just before the adults were vaccinated on Tuesday, a remaining batch of 12-17 year-olds had been given the Pfizer dosage.
A 4-page leaflet, handed to the adults, stated in the opening paragraph: “This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side-effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side-effects.”
According to the leaflet, very common side-effects may affect more than 1 in 10 people. These are – injection site: pain and swelling; tiredness; headache; muscle pain; chills; joint pain; diarrhoea and fever.
Some of these side-effects were slightly more frequent in adolescents 12 to 15 years, than in adults.
Common side effects may affect more than 1 in 10 people as follows: injection site redness; nausea or vomiting.
Uncommon side-effects may affect up to 1 in 100 people. These possible side-effects are: enlarged lymph nodes; feeling unwell; arm pain; insomnia; injection site itching; and allergic reactions such as rash or itching.
Rare side-effects may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people. These are: temporary one-side facial drooping, and allergic reactions such as hives or swelling of the face.
The leaflet adds: “If you get any side-effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side-effects not listed in this leaflet.”
