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There are four steps in your vaccination journey
WAITING
Read morePick a seat and please stay in it. We'll let you know when it's your turn to move to a vaccination station.
VACCINATION
Read moreMove to a vaccination station to get your vaccine. Please let our team know if you have any questions or start to feel unwell at any time.
OBSERVATION
Read moreRelax and take a seat and enjoy the podcasts, videos and other content we have curated for you to enjoy. You will be monitored for at least 15 minutes. We will let you know when you are able to leave.
Join the millions of South Africans who are vaccinated
Your vaccination journey
What to expect after your vaccination
Mild side effects are common. Here's what to look out for.
Injection area is sore or red
Fever or chills
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Nausea
Side effects can start around 6 hours after the vaccine, peak at 24 hours and resolve in 2-3 days. If you need to, treat pain and fever with paracetamol. These side effects show your body is mounting an immune response.
Very rare side effects are anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction), blood clots or COVID arm (mild allergic reaction that presents as an itchy, red rash that is typically around where the needle entered your arm).
Seek medical care if you develop any of the following symptoms within a month of vaccination:
- New onset severe headache especially if with blurred vision, vomiting, weakness on one side of the body or difficulty speaking.
- Severe abdominal pain that does not go away.
- A rash of tiny red spots at the injection site.
- A painful or cold leg.
- Chest pain or shortness of breath.
Contact the COVID-19 Public Hotline for any assistance: 0800 029 999
Understanding your vaccination
The vaccine is the medicine that is given to train the immune system in order to allow the body to effectively fight infections and the vaccination refers to the administration of a vaccine (in this case, through an injection).
COVID-19 vaccines are effective in protecting against infections and most specifically against severe COVID-19 disease and death. For those people who have already been vaccinated, the vaccines have shown over 80% protection against severe disease.
One of our medically trained staff will give you your vaccine. By law, only medical practitioners whose practice includes giving injections can give the COVID-19 vaccine - for example, dentists, paramedics, registered nurses, enrolled nurses and doctors.
The vaccine is given as an injection, usually in the arm. If you've already had a vaccination in the arm this season (for example, against the flu), it's best to get the COVID-19 injection on the other arm.
The person giving you the injection will have been trained on local and international clinical guidelines on safe administration of COVID-19 vaccines. These guidelines come from the National Department of Health, World Health Organisation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These guidelines state that:
- Medical staff do not have to wear gloves when giving the vaccination.
- The packaging for the needle will be open by the time you get to your station (the place where you'll get the vaccination).
- The used syringe will be disposed of safely.
One or two, depending on the vaccine you will be getting.
For some vaccines, like Pfizer-BioNTech, you will need two doses (two injections). For others, like Johnson & Johnson's Janssen (J&J/Janssen) vaccine, you need only one dose. Our medical staff will let you know which vaccine you are getting. They'll also tell you if and when you need to come back for a second injection.
The medical practitioner will fill in a vaccination card for you to take home and/or that will be sent electronically to you. They will then take you to an observation area, where you will be monitored for at least 15 minutes. They will let you know when you can leave or if you need to stay longer.
It takes time for your body to build protection after the vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
When to delay your vaccination
Please allow 30 days to pass after recovering from COVID-19 infection before you go for your vaccination. You will need to add 30 days to the following recovery periods:
- 10 days after a positive COVID-19 test if you have no symptoms, or
- 10 days after the onset of your COVID-19 symptoms.
- If you had serious illness or went to hospital, please wait 10 days after you're clinically stable (no longer on oxygen).
If you have been exposed to COVID-19 please complete your 10 days of quarantine.
Updated positioning from Nolu
Yes. Even after you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should still keep taking precautions in public places in line with guidelines applicable to vaccinated persons. Keep wearing a mask, stay at least 1.5 metres apart from others, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and wash or sanitise your hands often.
Please give us your feedback in the post-vaccination assessment tool on the Discovery COVID-19 Vaccination Navigator. We will send you reminders to do this.
This will help us give you support and guidance if you are experiencing mild, moderate or severe side effects - including how to manage these, and when you should consult your doctor.
Your feedback will also give us important information we can use to:
- Compare the types of vaccines members are getting and how effective they are.
- Track any side effects and COVID-19 infections among Discovery members who have been vaccinated.
- Contribute to ongoing research on COVID-19 infections and vaccinations. Note that none of your personal information will be shared only aggregated and anonymized data can be share for this purpose.
Thank you for getting your vaccine!
Tell your friends, family and broader community that you've been vaccinated.
About this site
Right of admission reserved
- You may only enter if you have a booking for the COVID-19 vaccine.
- For your safety and the health of others, please do not enter the building if you are COVID-19 positive or have had recent exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
- Discovery can deny you entry on this site if your presence or conduct could cause or does cause harm to others.
- Discovery may use clinical protocols to determine if you can continue your participation on the vaccination program.
- By entering this vaccination site, you consent to sharing personal, biometric and thermal information in accordance with our strict privacy policy.
You are entering this site at your own risk
- Please take care of yourself and others with you, as you move around on this site.
- The Discovery-owned or affiliated site will not be liable for any injury or harm caused to you or others with you whilst you are on site.
Vaccination at a Discovery-managed site is voluntary
- Being vaccinated at a Discovery site is your choice
- You can at any time withdraw from participation in the vaccination program.
- The Discovery Group administers all Discovery Health vaccination sites. The Discovery Group will not be held liable for any medical or financial harm or injury that occurs directly or indirectly as a result of you being vaccinated at a Discovery Health administered site. Please consult your medical scheme or insurer about how you are covered for medical expenses (directly or indirectly occurred) and any other claims that may arise as a result of being vaccinated. The cover offered by Discovery Health Medical Scheme and Discovery Life remains in place regardless of whether you choose to be vaccinated or not. For Discovery Health Medical Scheme members, you can check your cover available here. For Discovery Life, you can contact your financial advisor or check here.
Ask Discovery on Whatsapp
Use our Chatbot for instant answers to your questions about your COVID-19 vaccination or you can use our Get Help service.
Visit our COVID-19 information hub
Everything you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines and the national rollout programme.