The Government on Tuesday said that Covaxin and Covishield are effective against the UK and Brazilian variant of SARS-CoV-2. “Work against South African variant is going on,” said Union Health Secretary Bharat Bhushan.
Of the 11,064 genome samples of coronavirus sequenced, the UK variant has been detected in 807, South African variant in 47 and Brazilian variant in one.
He said that India will open Covid-19 vaccination for everyone aged above 45 years from April 1, irrespective of whether they have any co-morbidity or not.
“Everyone in the eligible age group can register on the CoWIN platform for vaccination or can visit the vaccination Centre after 3 pm with any identity document. Usually people with Aadhaar card & voter ID. But you can also produce bank passbook, passport, ration card,” said the official at a Press conference here.
However, reports of glitches in CoWIN app as well as some hospitals showing negligence during the vaccination process seem to be deterring many from coming forward to take the jab.
Take the case of Nirupama Cairie (58), who even after eight days of taking the first dose of Covishield, continues to reel with severe side effects of the jab. She alleged the private hospital where she was registered for vaccination did not follow the norms.
“I had registered on CoWIN app and scheduled my vaccination appointment at at a private hospital in Noida, Uttar Pradesh and went for my first dose on March 22nd 2021.Without bothering to look into my medical papers about my co-morbities, the hospital staff vaccinated me which left me with severe itching all over my body,” said Nirupama.
“The hospital staff did give me an injection but post-vaccination care was nil. Within 2 hours of my leaving for home I suffered severe asthmatic attack, high fever, breathing distress and cough. My family doctor has put me on all medications including steroids. The effects reduced but continue but I am still suffering. My doctor has suggested me not to take the second dose.”
Nirupama who happens to be the wife of a former IAS officer also alleged that she got two vaccination certificates with PAN card number which is not hers. Finally after her several complaints when she got yet another vaccination certificate, it had wrong date of March 25, 2021 as the date of vaccination, she alleged and asserted that she will never suggest that particular hospital for vaccination as well as the particular company’s vaccine.
Dr Rahul Bhargava Director and Head, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram voiced concerns that the Government is neither sharing data on re-infection, or those getting infected with coronavirus nor about those who are reporting adverse impact post vaccination.
He said that the Government should provide data on the number of people being inoculated with the Covaxin and Covishield and how many are getting infected despite getting the two doses of the jabs.
He raised concerns after the entire family of one of his doctor colleagues was found Covid-19 positive even after taking Covishield.