COVID-19 vaccine roll out: Over 400 cases of adverse events reported in 2 days – Mint

Over 400 cases of adverse event following immunisation were reported in two days after India had commenced the "world's largest vaccination drive" on 16 January, the health ministry said on Sunday. Around 2.24 lakh healthcare and frontline workers were inoculated in the first two days of the inoculation drive.

"447 cases of AEFI (Adverse event following immunization) reported on 16th and 17th January, only three required hospitalisation," the health ministry stated on Saturday. Any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunisation and does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine, is known as AEFI, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

Of these, one has been discharged from Northern Railway Hospital Delhi within 24 hours; one has been discharged from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi; and one is under observation in AIIMS Rishikesh and is being monitored," said Manohar Agnani, additional secretary, ministry of health and family welfare.

Protocols are in place for reporting, immediate case management at vaccination session site, transportation and hospitalization and further care of such cases. Protocols are also in place for systematic investigation and causality assessment of serious AEFIs," he said.

A worker in All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) was admitted to a hospital as he developed an allergic reaction after getting Covaxin shot on Saturday.

"An All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi security guard has developed an allergic reaction after receiving COVID-19 vaccination here on Saturday. He is kept under observation of doctors at the hospital," an AIIMS official said.

He was discharged later.

At least 17,072 beneficiaries received COVID-19 vaccine on the second day of nationwide inoculation drive. A total of 553 sessions were held in six States Andhra Pradesh (308), Arunachal Pradesh (14), Karnataka (64), Kerala (1), Manipur (1) and Tamil Nadu (165).

India has vaccinated the highest number of persons on first day under its COVID-19 vaccination program, the worlds largest such exercise. This is much higher than many other countries such as USA, the UK and France. Total of 2,24,301 beneficiaries have been vaccinated till today as per the provisional report," said Agnani.

States/UTs have been advised to plan covid-19 vaccination sessions four days in a week to minimize disruption of the Routine Health Services. Some states have already publicized their weekly vaccination days," said Agnani.

The union health ministry also had a meeting with all states on Sunday to review the progress of the vaccination drive.

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COVID-19 vaccine roll out: Over 400 cases of adverse events reported in 2 days - Mint