The ABC receives hundreds of questions about the coronavirus daily and we read through every single one.

Here are some of your frequently asked questions answered.

What are the COVID symptoms? 

Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, headache, night sweats or chills, and runny nose or congestion. 

Other symptoms include muscle or joint pain, loss of smell or taste, diarrhoea, vomiting or nausea and loss of appetite.

These symptoms can appear one to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Can you mix and match vaccines?

Australia has not approved mixing vaccines, and officials say there are currently no plans to allow this.

Research into mixing vaccines is taking place overseas and while it looks promising, it is still in its infancy stages and have yet to be peer-reviewed.

How long should I wait to get the second dose of AstraZeneca?

For most Australians, the recommended interval between AstraZeneca doses stands at 12 weeks for optimal protection.

However, given the recent outbreaks, people in Sydney have been told to get their second dose within four to eight weeks of the first.

Are side effects from the Pfizer vaccine common?

Side effects are more likely to occur after the second dose where an AusVaxSafety survey found that respondents had experienced adverse effects within three days of the second jab.

The most common symptoms were fatigue, pain at the injection site, headaches, fever, chills and muscle or joint pain.

Why do I have to follow COVID rules if I am fully vaccinated?

Vaccines are not designed to stop the risk of infection entirely, meaning even if you’re vaccinated there’s a chance you can still transmit the virus to people around you.

That means that until a large number of people in Australia are vaccinated, it’s unsafe to exempt vaccinated people from restrictions. 

Is the COVID vaccine safe for pregnant women?

A US study of more than 35,000 pregnant women who had an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine did not identify any safety concerns.

The Pfizer vaccine is now recommended at any stage of pregnancy as COVID poses a serious risk to pregnant women and their unborn baby.

Can children catch COVID?

Children can get COVID although it happens less frequently than adults, and most will experience mild illness or no symptoms at all.

The Pfizer vaccine was previously approved for children aged 16 and older but the advice has now changed to include children aged 12 to 15.

However, it could still be several months before they can access the vaccine.

Why is our vaccine rollout so slow?

Australia initially planned on using the AstraZeneca vaccine to protect most of the population, due to our ability to manufacture it locally.

But after supply issues and changing medical advice around its suitability for people under 60, Pfizer — which is still in limited supply — has taken a greater role in the rollout.

When will international travel resume?

There is still no clear date for when borders will be open for overseas travel.

The federal budget assumes borders will remain closed until the middle of 2022, aside from certain exemptions, and there is no guarantee Australians would be able to return home without quarantine.

Where did COVID originate from?

Early reporting suggested the virus was linked to a wet market in the city of Wuhan, China, but researchers worldwide are still investigating. 

There has been some speculation that it leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, however experts are divided on whether this theory is credible.

For more, our Coronacast podcast also brings you the latest news and research about the coronavirus.

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