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COVID-19, Why you have to stay for observation for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccination?

Dr Martin Terhardt, vaccination doctor and STIKO member, explains why you have to wait at the doctor’s or at the vaccination centre for a 15-minute observation after the COVID-19 vaccination. He also explains which people are recommended to stay for an observation period of 30 minutes.

Observation after vaccination is always recommended if rare but short-term vaccination reactions may be expected. Some of these include circulatory reactions involving falls or panic attacks or short-term allergic reactions.

If such rare reactions occur, the necessary medical help should be available. That’s why after the COVID-19 vaccination a routine observation period in the vaccination centre or doctor’s practice of at least 15 minutes.

Can the COVID-19 vaccination require a longer time than the 15-minute observation period?

Longer observation periods of 30 minutes are recommended as a precaution for certain at-risk people, such as those who have previously had a severe allergic reaction to other medication or vaccines or those who have suffered an allergic shock.

This applies for people who are also using a strong anticoagulant medication or suffer from serious underlying conditions of the heart or lungs

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Source: Bundesregierung