The risks of becoming ill are much more serious than the side effects of the vaccine.
Misconception: The risks of side effects from the vaccine are greater than the risks of getting the virus.
Facts: The risk of having serious side effects is negligible compared to the health risks of being ill with Covid-19. As with all medicines, there is a risk of side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine too.
For the Covid-19 vaccines, any side effects are usually mild and go away within a few days. The most common are tenderness in the arm where you had your injection, feeling tired, headaches, or fever. Before a vaccine can be distributed, it has to be thoroughly tested on a large number of volunteers. All of the side effects are recorded both during the tests and when the approved vaccine is being widely used amongst the population.
In Sweden, it is the Medical Products Agency that collects any reports of side effects. If serious side effects are discovered that outweigh the risks of the medicine, its use can be stopped immediately.
HOW TO REASON WITH SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN THIS MYTH
– I don’t want to get vaccinated because I am afraid of all the side effects.
– The risk of you getting serious side effects from the vaccine is negligible compared to the risks of falling ill with the virus.
There are many rumours that it is dangerous to get vaccinated, but this is not true.
– Really, how do you know that?
– All vaccines must be thoroughly tested on a large number of volunteers before they can be used. Even once the vaccine has started to be used, all side effects are reported to the authorities in the countries where the vaccine is being distributed.
Today, over one billion people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 and the risks of serious side effects are very small compared to the risks associated with getting Covid-19.
