The COVID-19 vaccine is an important tool that helps prevent illness and death from COVID-19 as well as helping to control the spread of the virus.

The same steps are used for COVID-19 vaccine development as are used for other vaccines. Vaccines go through various phases of development and testing – there are usually three phases to clinical trials. All phases assess safety. The last phase, phase III, is usually conducted in a large number of people, often tens of thousands.

The Ministry of Health in Lao PDR – Food and Drug Department, authorizes vaccines after reviewing its safety and efficacy profile and the data available from other regulatory authorities.

COVID-19 vaccines are continuously being monitored to make sure they are fully safe and effective for the people who receive them.

Like any vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild reactions including redness, swelling or pain around the injection site. Other side effects include fever, headache and aching limbs during the first few days after receiving the vaccine. More serious or long-lasting side effects from vaccines are possible but very rare. Vaccines are continually monitored to detect rare, severe adverse events. If you have a concern at any time, please contact a health care provider.

It is important that before you get the vaccine, you let health personnel know of any health conditions or allergies you may have.

Each person who is vaccinated will be asked to stay at the health facility for 15–30 minutes afterwards to monitor any side effects. The majority of severe allergic reactions from any vaccine usually take place within this time, if happens. Health personnel are trained to manage these rare cases.

Vaccines go through in depth scientific research and multiple clinical trials with thousands of people and are only approved for use in the wider population after their safety and efficacy has been carefully studied during clinical trials, and the benefits are shown to far outweigh any risks.

Serious vaccine reactions are rare. The Ministry of Health has vaccine safety monitoring/ surveillance systems in place for any unexpected medical event after someone has received a vaccine which may or may not have been caused by the vaccine.

Based on current information, most COVID-19 vaccines require two doses, with the second dose administered 3 to 12 weeks after the first dose. It is very important to have the second dose to be most effective.

If you have anaphylaxis (lifethreatening allergic reaction) after the first dose, you are contraindicated for the second dose with the same vaccine. Otherwise, you can receive the second dose.

It is currently advised that you receive the same vaccine product for both doses.

Immunity persists for several months but the full duration is not yet known. That is why it is important to continue preventive practices, such as wearing a mask, washing your hands regularly with soap and physical distancing in public places. Taking these steps to protect ourselves and others will still be important for some time to come. It is also important to remember that this immunity refers to protection from more severe COVID-19 disease. We don’t yet know how good the vaccines are at stopping someone becoming infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Yes, the available vaccines have all demonstrated efficacy in reducing COVID-19 disease. None of the vaccines protect 100% so other measures - including handwashing, mask wearing and physical distancing - must be maintained.

COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with pre-existing illnesses which put them at higher risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19.

If you have had allergic reactions to any vaccines, drugs, or medical products in the past, discuss these with a healthcare provider before getting vaccinated.

As long as COVID-19 is still a global pandemic, you should continue to take preventive measures, such as covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing your hands frequently with soap and water if available or with alcohol hand sanitizer, and staying at least 1.5 metres away from others in public places. It is also important to avoid crowded areas with poor ventilation. These steps will help reduce any chance of spreading the virus.

COVID-19 has changed many things, including what “normal” life looks like. For as long as the pandemic lasts, we must adapt to a “new normal”—including after vaccination.

Yes there are now several vaccines that are in use. The first mass vaccination programme started in early December 2020 and as of and as of 15 February 2021, 175.3 million vaccine doses have been administered. At least 7 different vaccines (3 platforms) have been administered.

WHO issued an Emergency Use Listing (EULs) for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) on 31 December 2020. On 15 February 2021, WHO issued EULs for two versions of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and SKBio. On 12 March 2021, WHO issued an EUL for the COVID-19 vaccine Ad26.COV2.S, developed by Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). WHO is on track to EUL other vaccine products through June.

Once vaccines are demonstrated to be safe and efficacious, they must be authorized by national regulators, manufactured to exacting standards, and distributed. WHO is working with partners around the world to help coordinate key steps in this process, including to facilitate equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the billions of people who will need them.

Currently, there is no evidence that any other vaccines, apart from those specifically designed for the SARS-Cov-2 virus, will protect against COVID-19.

However, scientists are studying whether some existing vaccines – such as the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which is used to prevent tuberculosis – are also effective for COVID-19. WHO will evaluate evidence from these studies when available.

Like any vaccine, COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild side effects, such as a low-grade fever or pain or redness at the injection site. Most reactions to vaccines are mild and go away within a few days on their own. More serious or long-lasting side effects to vaccines are possible but extremely rare. Vaccines are continually monitored to detect rare adverse events.

Reported side effects to COVID-19 vaccines have mostly been mild to moderate and short-lasting. They include: fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, diarrhoea, and pain at the injection site. The chances of any of these side effects following vaccination differ according to the specific COVID-19 vaccine.

Clinical trials in some countries are looking at whether you can have a first dose from one vaccine and a second dose from a different vaccine. There isn't enough data yet to recommend this type of combination.

Because COVID vaccines have only been developed in the past months, it’s too early to know the duration of protection of COVID-19 vaccines. Research is ongoing to answer this question. However, it’s encouraging that available data suggest that most people who recover from COVID-19 develop an immune response that provides at least some period of protection against reinfection – although we’re still learning how strong this protection is, and how long it lasts.

WHO is aware of reports of severe allergic reactions in a small number of people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. A severe allergic reaction – such as anaphylaxis – is a potential but rare side effect with any vaccine. In persons with a known risk, such as previous experience of an allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of the known components in the vaccine, precautions may need to be taken.

WHO recommends that healthcare providers assess patient medical history to determine if a patient is at risk for severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. All immunization providers should be trained to recognize severe allergic reactions and take practical steps to treat such reactions if they occur.

COVID-19 vaccine use will be closely monitored by national authorities and international bodies, including WHO, to detect serious side effects, including any unexpected side effects. This will help us better understand and manage the specific risks of allergic reactions or other serious side effects to COVID-19 vaccines that may not have been detected during clinical trials, ensuring safe vaccination for all.

While several COVID-19 vaccines appear to have high levels of efficacy, no vaccine is 100% protective. As a result, there may be a small percentage of people who do not develop protection as expected after COVID-19 vaccination.

In addition to a vaccine's specific characteristics, several factors such as a person's age, their underlying health conditions or previous exposure to COVID-19 may have an impact on a vaccine’s effectiveness. We also do not yet know how long immunity from different COVID-19 vaccines will last. That is one reason why, even as COVID-19 vaccines start to be rolled out, we must continue using all public health measures that work, such as physical distancing, masks, and handwashing.

If you have questions or concerns about being vaccinated, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns. Immunization currently prevents an estimated 2–3 million deaths every year. It is much safer to be vaccinated than to contract the disease.

Safe and effective vaccines will be an important tool - in combination with other measures -to protect people against COVID-19 and save lives.