Over 2 lakh vaccinated in India, only 447 adverse events so far

In a press conference on Sunday, the Union Health Ministry said a total of 447 adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) have been reported from across the country over the past two days. On Saturday, India launched the first phase of the world’s largest vaccination drive, vaccinating more than 2 lakh healthcare and frontline workers—higher than the US, UK and France on Day 1.

“2,07,229 people were vaccinated on day one—the highest day one vaccination number in the world; higher than the US, UK and France on day one,” said Dr Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry at a press briefing. “India has done the highest vaccinations in the world in a day. More than the US, the UK and France,” he said, adding: “447 cases of AEFI (Adverse event following immunisation) were reported on 16 and 17 January; only three required hospitalisation.”

Dr Agnani addressed the media on Sunday along with Joint Secretary Mandeep Bhandari. The top officials in the Union Health Ministry said that states have been asked to plan vaccination sessions against coronavirus four days a week.

Some states have already declared their dates, Dr Agnani added. He also mentioned that Andhra Pradesh has sought permission to carry out vaccination six days a week.

On Sunday, six states vaccinated more healthcare and frontline workers against Covid-19. A total of 17,072 beneficiaries received the jab in these six states on Day 2 of the mass inoculation exercise.

Asked about post-vaccination adverse events, the Health Ministry officials said a total of 447 cases of AEFI have been reported from across the country. Out of these, three vaccine recipients required hospital care. The recipient vaccinated in Northern Railway Central Hospital in Delhi has been discharged and so has the one treated at AIIMS-Delhi, Dr Agnani said. The vaccine recipient admitted to AIIMS-Rishikesh is fine now, they added. Most adverse events reported were minor including fever, headache and nausea, the health ministry said.

The Centre on Saturday said that the shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age, followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities.