All adults in Scotland will be eligible to receive the Covid booster jab in the coming weeks and months amid fears over the Omicron variant.
Previously, only the most vulnerable Scots were pencilled in to receive a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine to help protect them over the winter months.
But the Scottish Government widened the reach of the scheme after cases of Omicron were found in Scotland. The space between second and third doses was also reduced in a bid to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible.
The new variant has caused concern among the global scientific community in recent weeks after it was first reported by health officials in South Africa.
Early studies have suggested the variant is more transmissible than Delta, while investigations into the effectiveness of the vaccines when tackling the variant are ongoing.
Yesterday, pharmaceutical company Pfizer revealed a third dose of its vaccine neutralises Omicron infection.
The company analysed blood taken after a third shot and found the variant was neutralised as effectively as the original strain was following two doses of the vaccine.
So far, 44.1 per cent of Scots aged 18 and over have received a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
The Scottish Government is yet to set a target in which it hopes to have completed its booster programme. Officials down south are aiming to give all adults an invitation for a third jag by the end of January.
Booster vaccine side effects
NHS Scotland has highlighted a number of side effects that Scots may experience when receiving their third dose of the vaccine.
Health officials say that it is not unusual to experience some side effects from vaccination.
“It shows that vaccine is teaching your body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease, however not everyone gets them”, a notice on the NHS Inform website reads.
The vast majority of the symptoms experienced post-vaccination are mild and short term.
They include the following:
- Having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had the injection
- Headache or muscle ache
- Joint pain
- Chills
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling tired
- Fever (temperature above 37.8C)
You may also experience some flu-like symptoms with episodes of shivering and shaking for a day or two after vaccination.
Uncommon side effects are swollen glands in the armpit or neck, on the same side as the arm where you have the vaccine. This can last for around 10 days, but if it lasts longer than that then you should go see your doctor.
It is important to mention that the side effects are much less serious than developing Covid or complications associated with the virus, as they usually disappear within a few days.
What should I do to tackle the side effects?
NHS Scotland advises you should rest if you are feeling the ill effects of the vaccine and should consider taking paracetamol.
The side effects normally last for less than a week.
If you are concerned about the side effects or they appear to get worse, then you should phone NHS 24 free on 111.
