Some doctors at RML refuse to take vaccine, doubt Covaxin efficacy
On day one of the launch of India’s historic nationwide vaccination drive against Covid-19, Delhi, Maharashtra and Haryana recorded cases of adverse events — though none of them fatal — even as the Centre asserted that the inoculation drive was successfully conducted and no case of post-vaccination hospitalisation reported so far.
In Delhi, 52 healthcare workers developed minor adverse event following immunisation (AEFI), while 1 severe case was reported as per data available from the Government.
Haryana recorded 13 adverse event cases following the immunisation.
Officials from Maharashtra said they are further investigating the 14 cases of adverse events.
At some sites like RML hospital in the national Capital, a section of doctors were apprehensive of an adverse event as they doubted the efficacy of the Covaxin developed by the Bharat Biotech, which is yet to complete the phase three trials.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier this month approved Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.
The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of the Central Government hospital, RML refused to take the shot and requested the Medical Superintendent to vaccinate them with Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield.
In a letter to the MS, the association said the resident doctors were “a bit apprehensive” about Covaxin and might not participate in the immunisation drive in large numbers.
“We have come to know that the Covid-19 vaccination drive is being conducted by the hospital today itself. Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech is being preferred in our hospital over Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute,” it said.
Dr Manish Jangra, founding chairman of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FIAMA), told The Pioneer that the residents were apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in the case of Covaxin.
“We have our family members, what if something happens to us due to the adverse event caused by the Covaxin which is yet to complete its clinical trial. We have requested the MS to vaccinate us with Covishield which has completed all stages of trial before its roll-out,” said Dr Jangra.
He asserted that science is not based on belief but on facts and it has to be clinically proven before they administer it in their bodies. Only 31 beneficiaries were inoculated the vaccine on the first day of the vaccination drive at the RML hospital.
Dr Nirmalya Mohapatra, general secretary of RML FIAMA, talked about an adverse event case reported in Norway where 23 elderly people died after receiving Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. He said in India the Government could have waited for few more months to let the Covaxin developer complete its third clinical trial.
Dr Rahul Bhargava, Director (Institute of Blood Disorder and Bone Marrow Transplant) Fortis Hospital, Gurugram, echoed similar views as he said the Government has tried to modify the protocols related to phase three trials.
“We could have given go ahead to the vaccine developed by the Pfizer and SII as they have conducted needed studies. Biotech is still undergoing requisite trial and giving go ahead on the basis of present data can be harmful for the people,” said Dr Bhargava adding that there is a need to closely monitor adverse events of special interest.