Dear Staff,
The past year has been very difficult as families, businesses and communities struggle to cope with the effects of a global pandemic. We are entering a very important phase in the fight against COVID-19. We now have safe and effective vaccines available in Canada that will help prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and death from COVID-19.
Getting vaccinated is an important step to protect yourself, your coworkers, your community and your family members from infection.
Your health and well-being is important to us, and therefore we encourage each one of you to take time to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is your turn to do so. Should you have questions about the vaccine, you can find further information in the fact sheet.
Getting vaccinated and encouraging your friends, family and coworkers to do so can go a long way. In the near future, we look forward to opening our businesses and communities so that we can live, work and play together again. It is however, important to remember that while COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out across Canada, we must continue to follow public health measures to keep ourselves, our families and our communities safe.
If you feel comfortable doing so, let your friends and followers know that you will get the #CovidVaccine when it's your turn, and share your story after you receive it.
Thank you for doing your part to keep your communities and businesses safe by choosing to get vaccinated.
Sincerely,
XXXXX
Additional facts about the COVID-19 vaccine
Benefits of vaccination
COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Canada are safe and effective and can help protect you from getting sick. The COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested during their development and then carefully reviewed by Health Canada.
Where can I get vaccinated?
Please contact your local public health authority to find your closest vaccination clinic.
How safe are these vaccines?
Canada has one of the most rigorous scientific review systems in the world and only approves a vaccine if it meets the Government's stringent safety, efficacy and quality standards. The review process for COVID-19 vaccines is rigorous and there are systems in place to continue monitoring the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines after they are approved. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines are developed and authorized.
What side effects should I watch for?
Like any medication, vaccines can cause side effects. Usually vaccine side effects are minor (for example, a sore arm where a shot was given or a low-grade fever after a vaccine) and go away on their own within a few days. Other short-term side effects include fatigue, muscle pain, chills, and joint pain. Some side effects, including fever, are more frequent after the second dose.
The Government of Canada has a robust vaccine safety monitoring system in place that engages healthcare professionals, vaccine manufacturers, the provincial and territorial health authorities, and Indigenous partners.
I just got vaccinated. Now what?
While COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing illness, evidence is limited on whether someone who received a vaccine is still able to transmit the virus.
Therefore, it is important to be COVID-wise and continue with public health measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect yourself and others. This includes:
- minimizing non-essential in-person interactions
- avoiding closed spaces (with poor ventilation) and crowded places with people from outside of your immediate household
- properly wearing a well-constructed and well-fitting non-medical mask
- washing your hands with soap and water, and if unavailable, using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
- practising respiratory etiquette when coughing or sneezing &
- getting tested if you have symptoms