A guide to vaccinations for people with a learning disability
Part 1: About vaccines
This Easy Read guide helps people with a learning disability understand what vaccines are, how they work, why they are important, and what to expect when getting a vaccine – including support available before, during, and after the appointment.
Transcript – Importance of vaccines
Public Health Wales – Vaccination Saves Lives Vaccines.
You’re probably fed up of hearing about them, but we’ve been getting vaccinated since we were babies, and vaccinations have been around for a lot longer than that.
The first vaccine was invented back in 1796, which completely wiped out the deadly smallpox disease. Fast forward to today, and we have vaccines to help protect us from getting seriously ill from more than 16 diseases in Wales, from meningitis to cervical cancer.
At times in your life, you might be offered additional vaccines to help shield you. For example, during pregnancy you’ll be offered the whooping cough vaccine to protect your baby from becoming very ill once they’re born. But how does vaccination work, exactly? Well, a vaccine teaches our bodies how to fight off a disease before we’re exposed to the virus or bacteria that causes it. This way, if we are exposed to it in the future, our body’s immune system already knows how to fight it before we ever become seriously ill. All vaccines used in Wales are tested on thousands of people before they are offered to us.
Vaccines are safe and effective. Research from around the world shows that vaccines are one of the best ways you can help to protect yourself, your friends, and family against serious disease. They’re like putting a big arm around our loved ones, to shield and safeguard them against lots of nasty illnesses. Vaccines will be with us throughout our lives. They’re part of our history and our future.
To learn more about vaccines and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, please visit the Public Health Wales website.
Part 2: Getting a vaccine
Part 2 describes the process of getting a vaccine, information about common side effects and examples of reasonable adjustments.
This video and Easy Read guide were made with people with a learning disability. The video and guide are based on information we learned from people with a learning disability, their carers, and supporting organisations.
The video shows a person and their carer visiting their GP surgery to have their flu vaccine. It provides examples of the reasonable adjustments you can ask for to support you to go to your appointment, like a double appointment, and help with needle anxiety.
Transcript – Getting a vaccine
Rachel’s story – getting a vaccine
Rachel: I’ve had a letter from the doctor, but what does it mean?
Carer: Let’s have a look. Oh yeah, well this is about your flu vaccination, we need to make an appointment.
Rachel: Ah okay
Carer: shall I read it to you?
Rachel: Yes please
Carer: Your annual flu……
Voice over: Rachel has been invited for a flu vaccine. Like all adults with a learning disability, she can get a free flu vaccine every year in the autumn. Rachel may also be invited for other vaccines at different times depending on things like her age and health.
Carer: Hello, I’m a carer for someone who has a learning disability, and I need to make an appointment for their flu vaccine.
Voice over: Before booking her vaccine appointment Rachel and her carer talked about things that would make it easier for her to have a flu vaccine. These are called “reasonable adjustments”. Reasonable adjustments are the changes that services must make so everyone can use them. These can be things like having an appointment at a quieter time of day or asking not to be kept waiting too long.
It is important to arrange these before your appointment.
Receptionist: Hello, how can I help?
Rachel: Hello, afternoon I’ve got an appointment at 2 o’clock, my name is Rachel Jones.
Receptionist: Right okay, yes, I have your appointment here. We’ve booked a double appointment for you so you have more time, and just let you know if you would like to take your carer in with you, that’s okay.
Rachel: Okay
Receptionist: And if you take a seat, they’ll call you when they are ready.
Rachel: Right, thank you.
Nurse: Rachel Jones?
Rachel: Yeah, that’s me, hello.
Nurse: Hi Rachel, do you want to follow me?
Rachel: Yes.
Nurse: This way.
Nurse: Hi Rachel, my name is Hawys, have you come for the flu vaccine today?
Rachel: Yes.
Nurse: Excellent. And did you have the opportunity to read through the information?
Rachel: Yes, I did. I read it with my carer.
Nurse: That’s great. Are you well today?
Rachel: I am.
Nurse: And have you got any allergies?
Rachel: Penicillin.
Nurse: That’s perfectly fine. Have you ever had the flu vaccine before?
Rachel: Yes, I have.
Nurse: Did you have any problems afterwards?
Rachel: I had a sore arm and was more tired than usual.
Nurse: Okay, those symptoms are completely normal, okay. So sometimes after vaccinations people can have those things and we call them side effects.
Rachel: Okay.
Nurse: Usually they’re nothing to worry about at all and not everybody gets them. But often side effects can include things like a sore arm for 2 to 3 days. Some people can have a temperature, feel more tired than normal or have general aches and pains.
Rachel: What should I do if these things happen to me?
Nurse: So, to help with these side effects you can take paracetamol, make sure that you rest and
drink plenty of water.
Rachel: Okay.
Nurse: It’s not nice having these side effects but they are usually very mild and only lasts 2 to 3 days.
Rachel: Okay.
Nurse: But if you are worried or if they are making you feel unwell or if they do last longer than 3 days then make sure that you come back and see us, okay?
Rachel: Okay, I will thank you.
Nurse: Okay are you happy to go ahead?
Rachel: Yes, but I’m afraid of needles.
Nurse: Okay, don’t worry lots of people feel like this. It’s a really, really quick process. I’ll pop the needle in the top of your arm and then we’ll pop a little bit of cotton wool on top.
Rachel: Okay.
Nurse: Would it help if I didn’t show you the needle, and maybe when we’re ready you can look away at your carer?
Rachel: Yes.
Nurse: Okay, do you have any questions, are you ready?
Rachel: I’m ready.
Nurse: Excellent.
Voice over: Because Rachel doesn’t like needles there are things she can ask for to help with this. She can ask for reasonable adjustments like not looking at the needle, asking for a numbing cream or taking something with her to distract her like music or a stress ball.
Nurse: That’s it, all done, how are you feeling?
Rachel: Yeah, that was fine.
Nurse: Excellent, have you got any other questions?
Rachel: No.
Nurse: That’s it then, we’re all done we’ll see you again.
Rachel: Okay. Thank you.
Voice over: Vaccines are one of the best ways to keep you and the people around you safe from getting very ill from diseases like flu and COVID-19. There is more information to help you get your vaccine. You can read our Easy Read guide or go to our website to find out more.