Get the facts on the COVID-19 vaccine

This page is for everyone who wants to challenge misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines.

The COVID-19 vaccines are new, and it is very normal for people to have questions.

There is so much information – and misinformation – it can be overwhelming.

But we need to build vaccine confidence because each and every vaccinated person helps us move past the pandemic.

The vaccines are safe.

Creating a COVID-19 vaccine has meant many people around the world worked together like never before. They also had much more money than usual from different governments contributing. This has allowed scientists to complete years of work in just months, without missing any steps. Vaccines are only allowed in Australia after being tested and found to be safe and effective. All vaccines continue to be quality tested and monitored for safety.

The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain live virus and cannot give you COVID-19.

The vaccines pretend to be the real virus and teach your body how to defend itself. This will help stop you from getting really sick and going to hospital or even dying if you do contract the virus.

We do know every ingredient that is in the vaccines.

All vaccines have their ingredients published on the internet. The vaccines are mostly water, with salt – the same kind that goes on hot chips, and sugar like you may put in your coffee. There are also fats that protect the active part of the vaccine and help it get into your cells, so it can work. These ingredients often have very long names like distearoylphosphatidylcholine – there is a lot of science involved, but you should not be worried.

There is no graphene oxide, gluten, egg, wheat, bee venom, latex in the vaccines. There are no animal products and the COVID-19 vaccines are halal.

The vaccines are providing good protection against the new strains.

Being up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination is important to protecting people from becoming seriously ill with existing and new variants.

COVID-19 vaccines can’t change your DNA.

The vaccines deliver instructions to your cells to build protection (immunity) against the coronavirus. This does not happen in the part of your cells where your DNA is. Your cells permanently destroy the vaccine after the instructions are delivered.

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine does not make you magnetic – anywhere on your body.

COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any magnetic ingredients that could do this. You would need a lot of metal to attract a magnet. What you might have seen on TikTok is just a trick.

People take multi vitamins which often contain iron. This doesn’t make them magnetic because they are so diluted and spread through your body. Piercings also place metal in your body and that doesn’t make you magnetic either.

A microchip would not fit through the vaccine needle.

This myth is based on a fake video circulating on social media.

Book online or call the National Coronavirus Helpline 1800 020 080 to book your COVID-19 vaccination