COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker: India To Begin Vaccination For 18-45 From May 1

Three Documents Shared With COVAXIN

As COVAXIN is under restricted use for emergency situations and under the clinical trial mode, every participant who receives this vaccine is being given three documents along with the vaccine shot. A fact sheet in all regional languages that describes the vaccine and who is eligible to receive it, an informed consent sheet that the recipients are expected to sign, and a form for filling in details of any adverse events following immunisation. 

The form for AEFI has to be filled by the beneficiaries after a designated doctor calls them daily for seven days as follow up to check for any side effects after immunisation.  

Decision Of Which Vaccine Goes To Which Site Left To State Govts

The decision of whether a vaccination site receives COVISHIELD or COVAXIN in a state was taken by the state and union territory governments, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a press conference. 

State governments decided which vaccine they wanted to administer at their respective vaccination sites. Several states ordered both COVISHIELD as well as COVAXIN  to distribute within the states. 

Bharat Biotech Releases List Of People Who Should Not Receive Covaxin

In a fact sheet uploaded on its website, COVAXIN producer Bharat Biotech has released a list of participants that should not receive its COVID-19 vaccine. 

People with allergies, suffering from fever at the time of vaccination, having a bleeding disorder or consuming a blood thinner, on medication for a disorder that affects the immunity, pregnant, and lactating should avoid the COVAXIN dose. 

While pregnant and lactating women avoiding the vaccine is in tune with the guidelines of the government, Bharat Biotech has also included people suffering from other health conditions. 

580 Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFIs) Reported: Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Monday that seven beneficiaries of the COVID-19 vaccination drive have been hospitalized so far with adverse event following immunization (AEFI). A total of 580 beneficiaries showed AEFI, the Ministry stated. MoHFW added that two people died after taking the COVID-19 vaccine, one in Uttar Pradesh and the other in Karnataka. While MoHFW ruled out that the death from UP was not related to vaccination, the post mortem of the person from Karnataka is planned for today. The total number of vaccinated people is 1,48,266 as of 5 pm so far.

3 People Hospitalised Post-Vaccination: Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Sunday that three beneficiaries of the COVID-19 vaccination drive have been hospitalized so far with adverse event following immunization (AEFI). While two people have been discharged from the hospital, one patient is currently under observation at AIIMS, Rishikesh. A total of 447 beneficiaries showed AEFI, the Ministry said. 553 vaccination sessions were held on January 17 with a provisional total of 17,702 people being vaccinated. The total number of vaccinated people is 2,24,301 so far.

Maharashtra Decides To Halt Vaccination For Two Days

Due to the irregularities faced with the Cowin app on the first day of the vaccination drive, the Maharashtra government has decided to halt the vaccination drive on January 17 and 18.

The Cowin app which is a digital platform specifically designed for COVID-19 vaccination. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is reviewing the app as several states reported issues with the application and is attempting to solve all the reported issues. 

1,65,714 Beneficiaries Vaccinated Today: Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health And Family Welfare in a press conference on January 16, 2021, reported citing provisional data that a total of 16,755 personnel were involved in 3,351 immunisation sessions wherein 1,65,714 beneficiaries were vaccinated across the country on the first day.

The ministry further stated that no case of post-vaccination hospitalisation have been reported so far.

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria administered COVID-19 vaccine

All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria received a COVID-19 vaccine during the first phase of the inoculation drive on January 16, 2020. This was administered to Guleria moments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first phase of the vaccination drive across the country.

Ministry Shares List Of People Who Will Not Receive The Vaccine

In a letter to all the national health mission state directors and state immunsation officers, additional health secretary Dr. Manohar Agnani shared a list of the recipients who will not be administered the vaccine. 

Persons with history of allergic reactions to food items as well as pregnant and lactating women will not receive the vaccine. While persons exhibiting any symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, those who have received monoclonal antibodies against the virus as well as those who are hospitalized for other illnesses will be deferred for 4-8 weeks. 

The government intends to vaccinate over 1 crore health workers in the first phase that begins on January 16.

First Person To Be Vaccinated Has Not Been Decided Yet: Niti Aayog

While a senior citizen was the first one to receive the Pfizer jab in the UK and a nurse was the first one to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the US, all eyes are on who will be the first person to be vaccinated in the country. Dr. V. K. Paul, member of the NITI Aayog, said that the country has not chosen a specific person at a location to receive the vaccine first and that the vaccine will be administered at all the sites simultaneously.