FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: As the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccine is to be rolled out on Friday, Directorate of Health Services (DHS) said that adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) are an indication that the vaccination is working on the immune system.
DHS Goa, along with the rest of the country, had administered the Covidshield vaccine from Serum Institute of India on January 16, 2021 to 426 persons.
“It was observed that within 24 hours of the vaccination some of the beneficiaries reported pain and tenderness at the site of the injection, bodyache, myalgia, weakness, fever. Few beneficiaries also reported vomiting, loose motion and pain in the abdomen. It needs to be informed that such symptoms are expected after a vaccination and it is an indication that the vaccine is working on the immune system of the beneficiary,” a release issued by the DHS on Thursday stated.
It added that simple remedies like paracetamol, ORS and rest helps get rid of these. “The vaccine is approved by ICMR and Drug Controller of India. The vaccine is safe, well tested and effective. At present all the vaccinations are for health care workers. All HCWs are requested to avail the vaccine and protect themselves from coronavirus disease,” the statement adds.
A day after receiving the vaccine, seven health care workers had developed ‘minor’ complaints as part of AEFI.
Around 426 health care workers were administered the vaccination in five government-run hospitals – GMC, Hospicio, Mapusa district hospital, Sub district hospital Ponda and Chicalim; while another 274 were vaccinated with Covishield at private hospitals – Manipal and Healthway.
