Is it safe for people with epilepsy to get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Is it safe for people with epilepsy to get the COVID-19 Vaccine?Vaccines against COVID-19 are now available in Australia. Some people with epilepsy have concerns but there is currently no evidence to suggest that having epilepsy is specifically associated with a higher risk of side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine.
For people with epilepsy, the risk of COVID-19 infection and potential complications far outweighs the risk of side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine. As with other vaccines however, a fever can develop after a COVID-19 vaccination. This could lower the seizure threshold in some people. Medications such as paracetamol taken as directed for 48 hours after the vaccination (or for the duration of fever) will lessen this risk.
Before you receive a COVID-19 vaccine, make sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know that you have epilepsy, as well as any other important medical information, such as:
- Allergies
- Allergic reactions to prior vaccines (e.g. flu vaccine)
- Current or recent fever or infection
- Medications you are taking, especially medications that suppress the immune system or blood thinners
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant
As with any vaccine, you should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. You should not receive a second dose if you had an allergic reaction to the first dose.
If you already received the COVID-19 vaccine, it is important to continue wearing a mask and social distance. The current vaccines reduce your risk of getting sick from COVID-19 by up to 90%, depending on the vaccine, but vaccinated people may still be able to spread COVID-19 to others without knowing they are carrying it. (ILAE March 2021)
For more information about the COVID Vaccine in Australia, Click Here
There are many practices around Australia that will be administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Check which priority group you are in. If you do have other health conditions you should speak to your General Practitioner (GP) about any concerns you may have.
Will the vaccines affect the medication I am taking?
The general rule is that if you have another medical condition, and you contract the COVID-19 virus, your outcomes are worse. You are more likely to go to hospital if you have heart disease or lung disease. So, in this type of situation, you really need to get the COVID-19 vaccine and give yourself that important protection.
In terms of the medications that you are taking, overwhelmingly, vaccines mix well with other medications. There are very few interactions. And so, your anti-seizure medication generally should not reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine that you are getting.
The only circumstances that you need to worry about generally is if you are given live vaccines while taking prescribed medications that suppress the immune system (for example, the varicella vaccine, for the varicella virus which causes chickenpox). Thankfully, at this time, neither vaccines for COVID-19 that we have available to us at the moment is what we call a live vaccine, therefore you don’t need to worry if you are on immune suppressive medications. (Top 3 questions, Dr Nick)
After you are vaccinated
You may experience some side effects following vaccination. Most side effects last no more than a couple of days and you should recover without any problems. Common reactions to vaccination include:
- pain, redness and/or swelling where you received the needle
- mild fever
- headache
Some people will experience more significant flu-like symptoms from the vaccine compared to other common vaccinations and may need time away from normal activities.
- For the Pfizer (COMIRNATY) vaccine, these symptoms are more common after the second dose.
- For the AstraZeneca vaccine, these symptoms are more common after the first dose.
Serious reactions such as allergic reactions are extremely rare. They usually occur within 15 minutes of receiving a vaccine. After you receive your vaccine, you should wait this amount of time before you leave to ensure your safety in case a reaction occurs.
See this article about Vaccine Side Effects
COVID-19 vaccination is not a cure-all or a complete substitute for safe behaviour. It should supplement other public health rules and guidelines. After you are vaccinated, COVID-safe measures remain in place. These include:
- testing
- contact tracing
- quarantine
- isolation
To continue to protect others, you still need to:
- practise good hygiene
- practise physical distancing
- follow the limits for public gatherings
- understand how to isolate if you need to
National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline
If you need information about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines or help with the COVIDSafe app, call 1800 020 080 or click here COVID-19 vaccine enquiries
If you need assistance with booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please note the call centre is unable to book appointments on your behalf.
Australian Government, state and territory government helplines have information on how people with disability can access the vaccine. Disability Gateway Helpline: 1800 643 787 or website: www.disabilitygateway.gov.au
This information is from the International League Against Epilepsy and the Australian Government Website. For more comprehensive COVID-19 Vaccine information Click Here
