People living with diabetes are encouraged to get the Coronavirus vaccine when they are offered it. As vaccination roll-out begins across Europe, IDF Europe would like to provide some facts and dispel some myths about vaccination for people living with diabetes.
The BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine
The Moderna vaccine
The AstraZeneca vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen
Find out more information about the European Commission’s vaccine strategy here.
Two additional vaccines, CVnCoV developed by CureVac and NVX-CoV2373 developed by Novavax, are currently under review by the EMA until sufficient evidence is provided for a conditional marketing authorization application.
Countries that are not part of the EU may have access to additional vaccines other than the ones mentioned above. Check out this infographic from GZERO which outlines the 12 vaccines worldwide that have reached Phase III of the trial process. We recommend you consult the website of your national health ministry to read about the vaccines that will be made available to you.
The safety, efficacy, and quality of COVID vaccines are assessed by the EMA. The vaccine developer applies for conditional marketing authorisation (CMA) by submitting all the results of its testing to the EMA. Experts at the EMA then evaluates the data and develop a scientific opinion. The European Commission then reviews this opinion and decide whether or not to grant CMA to the vaccine developer. If CMA is granted, roll out of the vaccine in Member States can occur. The EMA also continues to monitor the vaccines once they are approved to protect patients. Click here for more information on this process.
Click here to read more information about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine provided by NHS England
Click here to read information about the Moderna vaccine provided by the EMA
Click here to read information about the AstraZeneca vaccine provided by the EMA
Each country has divided/will divide the population into different vaccination groups. So far, the priority groups for countries in Europe tend to follow a similar pattern as outlined below and IDF Europe deems these groups and their prioritisation for vaccination reasonable. We recommend that you consult the website of your national Ministry of Health to find reliable and accurate information on the vaccination groups and how vaccines will be rolled out in your country. Click here for links to the Ministries of Health website in European countries.
According to this general guide, most people living with diabetes will fall under group 3.
We encourage everyone to get the coronavirus vaccination when they are offered it.
As with any vaccine you may have received in the past, the coronavirus vaccine may cause your blood glucose levels to rise for a couple of days. You should not be alarmed by this and can refer to the sick day rules to manage these. Be prepared and ensure that there are people around you who know how to support you if this happens. After the vaccination, drink plenty of water and keep a close eye on your blood glucose levels and you should be good to go.
Currently, none of the vaccines available are recommended for children as more data still has to be collected on the effects of the vaccine on children. This includes children living with diabetes.
There is currently no evidence to suggest that the coronavirus vaccine poses any additional risks to people with diabetes. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, we recommend that you consult with a healthcare professional first about the best course of action for you.
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