Reporting Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI) after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is essential. These reports assist the Ministry of Health to investigate and determine if the stated symptoms are definitively related to vaccination and provide any necessary support to the person who is experiencing the symptoms. The public is reminded that events after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine must be reported to the Ministry of Health immediately by calling the telephone number 818-2975.

As released at the 7th April, 2021 Press Conference by the Ministry of Health, data collected as of 4th April, 2021, showed that there were sixty-nine (69) vaccine recipients who reported one or more ESAVI on New Providence, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera as follows:

• headache - 21%
• injection site itching and rash, diarrhea and dizziness - 20%
• fever - 15%
• chills - 13%
• muscle pain - 9%
• pain at the injection site - 8%
• fatigue - 8%
• nausea - 6%
• chest pain - 1%.

There have been no reports to the Ministry of Health of allergic reactions, blood clots, post- vaccination hospitalizations or deaths.

The public is encouraged to obtain health information from reliable sources such as the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Prime Minister, the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization. Beware of receiving and/or sharing misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccine. The circulation of misinformation threatens public health efforts and can be harmful to a person’s physical and mental health.