This story is from January 19, 2021

Assam government seeks written health status before Covaxin shots

Assam government seeks written health status before Covaxin shots
Photo for representative purpose only
GUWAHATI: The Assam health department is carefully taking undertakings from healthcare workers while administering vaccine shots after Bharat Biotech’s warning that Covaxin should not be administered to those with health complications.
In most of the session sites in Assam, the Covishield vaccine made by Serum Institute of India (SII) is being administered. This has brought some relief to health officials after the Covaxin warning.
Out of a total of 58 session sites active on Tuesday, 52 sites administered Covishield to 1,926 beneficiaries, while six sites administered Covaxin to 117 beneficiaries. Health sources said that only one case of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) after Covaxin inoculation was reported from Barpeta in Assam on Tuesday. However, it was said to be a minor health issue.
“Those with health complications are not being given Covaxin shots, but Covishield is administered to such beneficiaries on a priority basis. Since only the health workers are being inoculated in the first phase, we hope that they will give the undertaking honestly and there won’t be any adverse incident due to vaccination,” executive director at National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, Manoj Choudhury, told TOI on Tuesday.
NHM, Assam, in a statement said that total nine minor cases of AEFI have been reported from three districts. Six cases were reported from Dibrugarh, two from Goalpara and one from Barpeta district. “All the nine cases are under control now after due observation and treatment provided as per protocol,” read the statement.
On Day 3 of the vaccination drive on Tuesday, a total of 2,043 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm in Assam through 58 session sites. This took the cumulative figure of those inoculated to 7,585 in the state. But the vaccination target continues to fall short of the initial planning. Only 35.22% of the targeted beneficiaries could be vaccinated on Tuesday, even as the health department formulated a plan to vaccinate 100 people in each site a day.
“Frontline workers in Assam have been extensively trained to detect and diagnose any possible case of AEFI and report it immediately. With a strong and extensive AEFI surveillance system, all AEFI incidents are being reported and investigated in accordance with the national AEFI guidelines to ensure transparency to the beneficiaries,” said a health department spokesperson.
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About the Author
Kangkan Kalita

Kangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers issues on health, education, stories of human interest while keeping a close watch on political developments and student movements. Reporting on environment and forest related issues and concerns of the northeast interest him equally.

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