On Tuesday, the third day of the COVID-19 immunization programme in Delhi, almost 48.7%, or 4,936 workers out of 10,125 healthcare workers who were scheduled to be injected, came up at the city’s 81 centres. Even though the percentage was lessas compared to the record on the 1st day, the total number of receivers on Tuesday were the highest up till now. In the earlier rounds, the slots of the absentees were occupied by people who volunteered to receive the shot.

The total number of adverse events was less at 16 cases on Tuesday as compared to the earlier two rounds. As per the government’s report, one receiver of Covaxinfrom the 224 recipients at six centres complained of minor adverse effects, whereas 15 people out of the 4,712 people who took Covishield at 75 centres also did the same.

There were a few problems with the allowing Co-WIN platform resulting in the low turnout. For example, at Lok Nayak Hospital, the app included in Tuesday’s list few health workers had already been immunized.

A government official stated that the turnout for vaccination might rise in the coming days. The facility to add a recipient has been incorporated in the Co-WIN app and it will enable officials to accommodate people who are willing to take the vaccine shots. The senior doctors and officials in hospitals too volunteered to receive the shot on Tuesday to assure and encourage the anxious staffers.The district and hospital authorities are conducting counselling sessions for receivers.

Several department heads and directors received the injection on Tuesday and set an example for others. Dr Arun Dewan, senior director, critical care, at Max Hospital, Saket, said that both the vaccines are absolutely safe. He got vaccinated and there is no need to panic. The vaccines are aresult of laborious scientific effort.

Dr Ashwini Dalmiya, who is a chairman of the vaccination committee, Delhi Medical Council, said that the medical body is going to address the hesitancy and anxiousness of 500 healthcare workers in the capital via an online meeting on Wednesday.

The hesitancy of the priority group to completely embrace the vaccination drive was highlighted at the joint meeting of hospital nodal officers along with district officials. A participating nodal officer said that they were told to stress more on counselling, dispense badges post-vaccination to encourage people, organize selfie points and also encourage those who took the shot to share their pictures and experiences on social media platforms. Vaccination centre officials are instructed to make sure the listed individuals receive information personally than through the app.

Almost 28 people were immunized on Tuesday at GTB Hospital, but only 9 people came to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. Dr Ajeet Jain, RGSSH nodal officer said that despite no reports of post-vaccination adverse reactions in their hospital, staffers are still suspicious and hesitant. He has asked his team to counsel them, solve their queries and also help them to talk to others who already received the vaccine. They are adhering to the instructions that are issued by the district administration.

An administrator at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital reported that many people who were selected for immunization through the Co-WIN app were not present on Tuesday, however 100 workers got vaccinated. Few people said that they were out of station and few others said they had certain personal issues. So, they allowed other doctors and volunteering staff to take the vaccine shots in their place.

Source: ET Healthworld