What are the precautions for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

Dec 03, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ren Yi
Introduction
In general, when receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, key precautions to focus on include assessing one's health status, avoiding contraindications to vaccination, preparing adequately before vaccination, cooperating with on-site observation, and paying attention to post-vaccination care. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is an important method for preventing infection, and strictly following these precautions ensures both safety and effectiveness of the vaccination.

Under normal circumstances, key precautions for receiving a COVID-19 vaccination mainly include assessing health status, avoiding contraindications, preparing adequately before vaccination, cooperating with on-site observation, and paying attention to post-vaccination care. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Assess health status: Before vaccination, individuals should honestly inform healthcare providers of their recent health conditions, including whether they have acute symptoms such as fever or cough, as well as the control status of any chronic diseases. Vaccination should be postponed if suffering from an acute illness or if a chronic condition is unstable, and rescheduled after recovery.

2. Avoid vaccination contraindications: Individuals must be aware of any contraindications, such as allergies to vaccine components, uncontrolled epilepsy or other neurological disorders, or being in special physiological stages like pregnancy or breastfeeding. Those with such conditions should communicate with medical staff in advance and must not conceal relevant information.

3. Prepare for vaccination: On the day of vaccination, wear loose, easily removable clothing to allow convenient access to the injection site. Clean the skin at the injection site beforehand and keep it dry. Avoid getting vaccinated while fasting or overly fatigued to prevent physical discomfort.

4. Cooperate with on-site observation: After vaccination, remain on-site for 30 minutes of observation. Monitor your condition closely during this time. If any unusual symptoms such as dizziness, rash, or palpitations occur, report them immediately to medical personnel. Do not leave before the observation period ends, so that any adverse reactions can be promptly addressed.

5. Pay attention to post-vaccination care: Avoid getting the injection site wet within 24 hours after vaccination to prevent infection. Refrain from intense physical activity, alcohol consumption, and eating spicy or irritating foods in the short term. Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Complete all required doses according to the recommended schedule to ensure full protection.

Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is an important measure to prevent infection. Strictly following these precautions ensures both safety and effectiveness. Maintaining a positive mindset and actively cooperating with the vaccination process helps strengthen the collective defense against the pandemic.