During the first two days of the vaccination initiative, a total number of 447 adverse events following vaccination against COVID-19 were reported across the country. Only three cases were initially hospitalised, out of them two have already been discharged from AIIMS, New Delhi, and the Northern Railway Hospital, respectively.

Additional health secretary Manohar Agnani said that one case is still under observation in AIIMS Rishikesh but stable. The adverse events reported were minor such as fever, pain, nausea, headache, giddiness and mild allergic reactions such as rashes etc. He further said that protocols are prepared for reporting any immediate case and management at vaccination session site along with transportation and hospitalisation and further care. Protocols are also prepared for systematic investigation and causality evaluation of serious AEFIs. A worker in AIIMS was hospitalised as he developed an allergic reaction following a Covaxin shot on Saturday.

An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) is defined as any sudden and unexpected medical occurrence following vaccination. It might or might not be associated with the vaccine or the whole vaccination process.

India had launched its first phase of COVID-19 vaccination programme on Saturday with two vaccines, namely Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Oxford University and AstraZeneca developed Covishield.

In the meantime, reports from states stated that almost 12 healthcare workers were administered vaccines on Saturday were hospitalised in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Bengal. Nine healthcare workers were hospitalised in Vidarbha, whereas two workers were admitted in Ujjain hospital in MP and one was admitted in Kolkata.

Source: ET Healthworld