It takes time to build immunity
It takes time for your body to build up an immune response after you get your vaccination.
The ATAGI recommended doses and vaccines outlines which vaccines and doses are recommended for each age and population group.
The first dose gives you partial protection as soon as 12 days afterwards. The second dose encourages your body to create stronger protection (immunity). A third dose is required for severely immunocompromised people.
A booster dose will make sure the protection from your first doses is even stronger and longer lasting, and should help prevent spread of the virus.
It takes 7 to 14 days after a dose before you are fully protected.
Find out more about booster doses and third doses for people with severe immunocompromise.
How long protection lasts
We do not yet know how long the protection from COVID-19 vaccines will last. Ongoing research around the world is evaluating:
how long protection lasts
whether you will need booster doses, such as an annual booster.
Right now you can book your booster dose if it has been 6 months or longer since your last dose of your COVID-19 vaccine.
Learn more about booster doses.
Get a COVID-19 digital certificate
Once you are fully vaccinated, you can get a vaccination certificate. It can take about 2 weeks after your second dose to become available.
Learn more about COVID-19 digital certificates.
Side effects
Serious or allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare. They usually occur within 15 minutes of receiving a vaccine.
You will be monitored for at least 15 minutes after your vaccination. The person who gives you the vaccine has been trained to respond to immediate reactions.
If you have side effects of vaccination
Most potential side effects are mild and go away in a few days. Very rarely, side effects might be more serious.
Learn when you should seek help for side effects.
You can check any symptoms you are experiencing through healthdirect's symptom checker.
You can also call the national coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline on 1800 020 080 any time.
Find out more about general vaccine safety and side effects, or see specific side effects associated with:
Report a suspected reaction or side effect
Reporting suspected side effects and reactions helps us monitor vaccine safety. Every report is valuable and helps ensure vaccination is safe.
If you or a health professional thinks you have experienced a reaction to or side effect of vaccination, please report it.
You can ask a health professional to report to the Therapeutic Goods Administration(TGA) on your behalf.
Or you can report side effects yourself:
to the NPS MedicineWise Adverse Medicine Events Line on 1300 134 237
via the TGA's online reporting form.
If you have experienced a rare side effect you may be eligible for compensation under our COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation scheme.
Consent form for COVID-19 vaccination.
Last updated: 17 February 2023
About COVID-19 vaccination
People who have a COVID-19 vaccination course have a much lower chance of getting sick from COVID-19.
There are four brands of vaccine in use in Australia. All are effective and safe. You can have:
• AstraZeneca if you are 18 years or older
• Novavax if you are 12 years or older
• Moderna if you are 6 months to 5 years inclusive for the primary course, and 18 and older for
the bivalent booster formulation*
• Pfizer if you are 6 months or older*
*There are separate consent forms available for children under 12. Bivalent formulations of mRNA vaccines are currently indicated only for as booster doses and are registered only for certain ages.
For the primary course, Pfizer, or Novavax are preferred over AstraZeneca for adults under 60 years of age.
Most people require two doses initially. This is called the primary course. People with severe immunocompromise may require a third primary dose to bring their immune response up to optimal levels. Severely immunocompromised children aged 6 months to 4 years receiving the Pfizer 3-dose primary course do not require a 4th primary dose.
Booster doses are available. Talk to your immunisation provider about whether you are eligible for a booster dose, and which vaccine choices are available to you.
For information on booster doses see:
• https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/advice-for-providers/clinical- guidance/clinical-recommendations
• www.health.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines
Medical experts have studied COVID-19 vaccines to make sure they are safe. Most side effects are mild. They may start on the day of vaccination and last for one or two days. As with any vaccine or medicine, there may be rare or unknown side effects.
There is a rare risk of myocarditis and pericarditis (heart inflammation) following Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. The risk appears highest with Moderna, followed by Pfizer, and is lower with AstraZeneca. Cases have been reported after Novavax but the rate with this vaccine is not yet known.
Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects after vaccination that you are worried about.
You may be contacted by SMS or email in the week after you have the vaccine to see how you are feeling.
• Some people may get COVID-19 after vaccination. You must still follow all relevant public health advice in your state or territory to stop the spread of COVID-19.
By law, the person giving your vaccination must record it on the Australian Immunisation Register. You can view your vaccination record online through your:
• Medicare account
• MyGov account
• My Health Record account (you can register for this with a Medicare number or an
Individual Healthcare Identifier).
How your information is used
For information on how your personal details are collected, stored and used, visit www.health.gov.au/using-our-websites/privacy/privacy-notice-for-covid-19-vaccinations.
On the day you have your vaccine
Before you get vaccinated, tell the person giving you the vaccination if you:
• have had an allergic reaction, particularly a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), to:
o apreviousdoseofaCOVID-19vaccine o aningredientofaCOVID-19vaccine
o othervaccinesormedications
• are immunocompromised. This means that you have a weakened immune system that makes it harder for you to fight diseases. You can still have a COVID-19 vaccine but may need extra doses and should talk to your doctor about when is the best time to get your vaccine.