Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has permitted healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) to take Covaxin jab at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) centre in the city. Administering Covaxin dose has also been started for these two categories at district general hospitals in three districts of Vidarbha.
NMC medical officer Dr Sanjay Chilkar told TOI, “Government had made Covishield available at all centres since January 16, but Covaxin was given only for HCWs at GMCH. Therefore, we did not allow others. Now, any registered HCW or FLW can take Covaxin shot at GMCH. The beneficiaries will have to sign an undertaking and submit report of adverse event following immunization (AEFI).” All requisite trials of Covaxin are pending hence the undertaking is must, he said.
Of the total 5,210 HCWs registered at GMCH, 1,925 (36.95%) have taken the jab in the last 39 days.
Amravati civil surgeon Dr Shyamsunder Nikam said, “We have made Covaxin available for HCWs, other than staff of the district general hospital, from the second day. There is no hesitancy in HCWs and also FLWs here in taking Covaxin. There were no major cases of AEFI in Covaxin, so many opted for it here.”
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde took Covaxin dose at GMCH on Tuesday. Dr Shinde said, “Covaxin has less reactogenicity compared to Covishield, hence there should be no apprehensions. Efficacy level of both the vaccines is said to be same.” NMC should make available both — Covishield and Covaxin — at all vaccination centres, he said.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B is likely to become first FLW in the city to take Covaxin jab, apart from a few others from NMC, on Wednesday.
Dr NK Arora from ICMR, in reply to city lawyer Ankita Shah on MoHFW’s Twitter handle, said, “Overall efficacy of Covishield is 70.42%. Extent of the Covaxin efficacy would be known in due course, but data has shown that Covaxin produces good amount of protective antibodies.”
Government had made doses of Covaxin available at district general hospitals in Wardha, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Washim and Buldhana on February 13. Washim civil surgeon Dr Madhukar Rathod said Covaxin was made available for HCWs and FLWs from Tuesday.
Wardha civil surgeon Dr Sachin Tadas said, “There is good response to Covaxin here. We started administering Covaxin to both HCWs and FLWs a week ago.”
Dr Nikhil Dokrimare of Bhandara district general hospital said Covaxin was made available for HCWs and FLWs from February 17. Buldhana civil surgeon Dr Nitin Tadas said Covaxin will be made available at district general hospital from Wednesday. Gadchiroli is yet to plan roll out of Covaxin.
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