By Dr Fathima Begum Syed Mohideen, Dr Anu Suria Ganason and Dr Yafizah Yahaya

Congratulations when you have an appointment date for your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This is indeed history in your life! If you are between the ages of 12 and 18, this message is especially dedicated to you.

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia has served the community by vaccinating adults. To date, around 58% of the adult population has been vaccinated. Another 7% to reach the targeted 65% of the adult population, a step towards achieving herd immunity. Now it is your turn, our Malaysian adolescents. You may be scheduled for vaccination elsewhere. Nevertheless, we would like to give you some tips as a guide and preparation to make the vaccination process easier for you.

First of all, you need to know why the vaccine is crucial at this time of the pandemic. Besides, there are different types of vaccine, so it is good to read about them and enlighten yourself. However, you cannot choose your vaccine as MySejahtera will decide on that.

One of the most important key points is knowing how the vaccine works in your body. In general, the COVID-19 vaccine will protect you from serious COVID-19 illness. It does not guarantee 100% protection against the virus.

Positive attitude

Therefore, it is important to have a positive attitude and continuously adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent contracting the virus. Practice wearing a mask properly, wash hands frequently, adopt physical distancing, and avoid crowds. These are all vital. Those who were previously positive for COVID-19 will still need to take the vaccine as natural immunity to the infection may not be sufficient or may not last long.

Once you have received the appointment, there are several steps involved. Make sure your full name is spelled correctly. Your ID number (IC) is also correct. Otherwise, it is imperative to correct them. This is possible at the MySejahtera Helpdesk. At the vaccination centre, you have to inform the registration authority to check this in their system. This is important because after vaccination you will receive a digital certificate on your MySejahtera. It is essential to keep this certificate with the correct name and ID number (IC number).

Subsequently, you have to know your current status. Sometimes you need to refresh your MySejahtera to know your current status. Those who are close contacts, with red status, or casual contact with symptoms, orange status, are strongly advised to quarantine themselves. Basically, if your status is not blue or casual contact without symptoms, it is best to reschedule your appointment date as you are not allowed to enter the vaccination centre.

Before you go for vaccination, eat and drink adequately. Adequate hydration will contribute to your general wellbeing and will help your body to prepare and respond well to the vaccine.

There are adolescents involved with illicit drug and alcohol use. These two harmful substances may harm the body response to the vaccine. Exercise, on the other hand, is good for your health, but avoid vigorous exercise before and after your vaccination. Plan your travel time as the vaccination centre may be far from home. Be there ahead of time, relax, and prepare mentally before the vaccination.

Well-fitting and comfortable mask

It is important to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. A well-fitting and comfortable mask like the N95 mask should be protective. Otherwise, double masks can be helpful. Having your own hand sanitiser, if affordable, is another good habit. It is necessary to bring the handphone with the MySejahtera on which your name is registered. The notification you received for your appointment will be required when registering for the vaccine. Not to forget is your ID (IC) as this will also be requested at the registration counter. It is best to go with your parents or legal guardians. For anyone under the age of 18, parents or guardians should consent to the vaccination. Let the doctors know if you have any health problems such as allergies, asthma, or other illnesses. For the vaccination, wear clothes with sleeves that can be easily rolled up. After vaccination, have yourself verified at the counter to receive a small card for the date of the second dose. When you get home, clean yourself well and change clothes as the COVID-19 virus can stick not only on people but also on clothes.

There are some side effects of vaccines. But not everyone will face this. The most common side effects are discomfort from pain or fever. This can be a normal sign that your body is building up protection. On the arm where you received the jab, you may experience pain, redness and swelling. These symptoms can be relieved by placing a clean, cool, damp cloth around the injection site and moving the arm. The rest of the body can experience a feeling of tiredness, headache, nausea, muscle aches, chills and fever. To reduce discomfort from a fever, you may take paracetamol after discussing with your parents and/or consult a doctor, drink plenty of fluids and dress lightly. However, be aware that if you experience swelling of the eyes and lips, facial swelling, difficulty in breathing, or a generalised rash on your body or limbs, this is an emergency. This requires urgent medical attention.

After getting the vaccine, there are some important precautions that you need to follow after vaccination. Do not receive any other vaccine at the same time of the COVID-19 vaccination. In this case, please inform the doctor at the vaccination centre. To avoid vaccination-related side effects, you should not take painkillers before vaccination. If you experience side effects after vaccination, you may be able to take paracetamol as directed by a doctor. This is because some people may not have any side effects after vaccination. Schedule your work as some people may need to take a break after vaccination because they feel uncomfortable. Avoid vigorous physical activity that may put stress on your body immediately before and after the vaccination.

Develop immunity

Finally, getting vaccinated is not a shield for an individual from contracting the virus. A good positive attitude and habits are also important to prevent oneself from infection. However, vaccination assists the body to develop immunity that will help it to fight the virus and prevent the progression of the disease to a severe stage. Vaccination can reduce ICU admission and save lives in an otherwise previously healthy person.

We hope that the information shared will be very useful to all our adolescents. Thank you and congratulations again!

-- BERNAMA

Dr Fathima Begum Syed Mohideen, Dr Anu Suria Ganason and Dr Yafizah Yahaya are with the Family Medicine Unit, Department of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.