Informing patients
*This advice is current as of April 1, 2021.Content is subject to change as new information becomes available. Please check back regularly.
It is important to have conversations with your patients to understand their interest in being vaccinated for COVID-19. You can prepare those that are ready by answering any questions they have and letting them know what they need to do. You can also speak to patients that have special circumstances that need to be considered or addressed and decide their best course of action.
Alberta Health has broken down COVID-19 vaccine distribution into three phases. Please check the Alberta Health COVID-19 vaccine distribution web page for the most up-to-date information. AHS’s vaccine FAQ and MyHealth Alberta have comprehensive up-to-date information on the COVID-19 vaccines for Albertans.
Common patient questions about the COVID-19 vaccine
The Centre for Effective Practice from Ontario has also developed a helpful question and answer section to respond to common patient questions. The below questions and answers use Alberta specific information.
Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Can I join a waitlist to be prioritized?
No - Alberta does not have a waitlist. We know many people are anxious to be immunized for COVID-19, including those who are considered higher-risk or have other underlying health conditions. More information will be shared as it becomes available. Please do not call Health Link to ask about eligibility.
I’ve recovered from COVID-19, should I still get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, you should still be immunized. There is no mandatory waiting period between having COVID-19 and being immunized; however, it is recommended that people wait until they are feeling better.
Can the COVID-19 vaccine give me a coronavirus infection?
None of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Canada contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. The vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
How can I know that the vaccines are safe and not rushed?
The development of the COVID-19 vaccines weren’t rushed; they were prioritized and supported with a global effort. Across the world there has been increased sharing of information that has allowed vaccine developers and governments to study the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines. Ongoing studies and approvals are required as there is not sufficient evidence for use in all patients.
Do the vaccines work against the new COVID-19 mutants/variants?
The authorized mRNA vaccines have been predicted to work well against COVID-19 variants.
Novovax vaccine
- Efficacy maintained with UK variant
- Efficacy reduced with South African variant
Johnson and Johnson vaccine
- Efficacy reduced for UK, South African and Brazilian variant
This data is evolving, and better information continues to surface.
Will I still have to wear a mask after I receive the vaccine?
All public health guidance must still be followed until we learn more. This means you will continue to need to wear a mask after you receive the vaccine.
How does mRNA relate to DNA?
mRNA cannot go back into the nucleus where the DNA is - humans just don’t have these enzymes. Our bodies use mRNA all the time to make proteins. The vaccine mRNA and the protein it makes are dissolved within minutes to hours. We also regularly consume mRNA in our diet through items such as meat.
Are the elderly at increased risk of death from this vaccine?
In the USA from the CDC reports so far, the data does not suggest a signal to safety or deaths following vaccine in older adult residents of LTC facilities.
Deaths in this population following vaccination are consistent with expected all-cause mortality. The elderly patients’ deaths being investigated in Norway following their Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination seem to be coincidental. In Norway, 400 people die weekly in nursing homes/long term care facilities.
Do the vaccines contain mercury, formaldehyde, or aluminum?
The vaccines do not contain mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum. The vaccine ingredient are:
Medicinal ingredient
Non-medicinal ingredients
- ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)
- bis(2-hexyldecanoate)
- ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide
- 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
- cholesterol
- dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate
- monobasic potassium phosphate
- potassium chloride
- sodium chloride
- sucrose
- water for injection
Will the vaccines cause infertility?
There is a rumor that antibodies against the spike protein will also target a protein in the placenta of pregnant mothers, syncytin-1. There is no data suggesting that these antibodies will affect syncytin-1, as they are different proteins. If this were true, you would expect COVID-19 infection to be associated with increased rates of miscarriage.
Whereas COVID-19 in pregnant women leads to severity and ICU admissions, it is NOT associated with miscarriages.
Should I let others go first and get their vaccine?
You should get the vaccine when it is first offered to you. This allows for the most efficient process. Keep in mind, over 40 million people have already been vaccinated ahead of you.
If you have any questions about this toolkit, please email backthevax@albertadoctors.org.
