Health – In support of the jab

As a GP, the reason I do this job is because I want to serve the community and keep people safe and healthy. Therefore, I want to discuss the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Firstly the facts: No-one can deny that Covid-19 can kill. In the US alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been over 700,000 deaths. In the UK, coronavirus.data.gov.uk reports that over 160,000 have died from this virus.  

During the pandemic, New Zealand has been in a unique position. Due to strict restrictions at the border from the early stages, alongside stringent lockdown rules, we have managed to keep our infection numbers down.  

I think that for anyone living in New Zealand it is easy to forget how serious Covid-19 is. The majority of New Zealanders do not know anyone who has suffered from Covid-19. This is not the case in many other countries where thousands are dying from the illness every day.

During this most recent lockdown, and as community transmission of the Covid-19 Delta variant continues, health professionals have been urging people over 12 years of age to get vaccinated. Vaccines help to protect yourself and your whanau from the serious effects of Covid-19. According to the Ministry of Health, studies have shown that 95 percent of people who receive both doses of the Pfizer vaccine were protected against getting seriously ill from Covid-19.  

There is a lot of misinformation around about the vaccines. Please be mindful about where the information you are reading is coming from, and try to obtain information from trusted sources. 

If you have questions or concerns about whether or not you should get the vaccine, please discuss this with your GP or another trusted health professional.  

You cannot get the Pfizer vaccine if you have previously had a severe reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine. If you wish to see a list of the ingredients, you can look on the Ministry of Health website. The vaccine does notcontain DNA, animal products, microchips, gluten or foetal material!  

Don’t forget that the vaccine is completely free. As with all medicines, there is the potential for side effects. Common side effects from the Pfizer vaccine include a sore arm, tiredness and headaches. If you have concerns about side effects or adverse effects from the vaccine please discuss these with your GP.

I want people to live a long and fulfilling life. To all my patients, if you are not yet vaccinated, please come and talk to me.