NEW DELHI, Jan 15: With India standing on the threshold of launching the world’s biggest immunization drive, the government has cautioned people against some possible adverse impacts on receiving the Coronavirus vaccine.
However, none of the adverse events recorded so far were of any serious nature and could be overcome with some mild dose of paracetamol, healthcare sources pointed out.
Among the minor events recorded by the Serum Institute of India, the manufacturer of Covishield vaccine, included injection site tenderness; injection site pain; headache; fatigue; myalgia (deep muscle pain); malaise (a feeling of overall discomfort); pyrexia (an abnormal elevation of body temperature); chills; arthralgia (pain in the joint); and nausea.
In such cases, the common painkiller paracetamol may be used “to provide symptomatic relief from post vaccination adverse reaction,” official sources said.
Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer of Covaxin, also reported almost similar mild adverse reactions from its vaccine. It included injection site pain; headache; fatigue; fever; body ache; abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting; dizziness-giddiness; tremor; sweating; cold; cough; and injection site swelling.
A rare adverse impact recorded after injecting Covishield was demyelinating disorders. According to medical experts, the nerves in the body are covered with a protective layer called myelin — like a network of electric wires that helps transmit messages from the brain smoothly through the body. Conditions that damage myelin are called demyelinating disorders. The SII said “very rare events of demyelinating disorders” have been reported following vaccination with Covishield, “without the causal relationship establishment.” The company cautioned that Covishield should be given with “caution” to individuals with thrombocytopenia, a medical condition characterised by abnormally low levels of platelets.
For Covaxin, the Bharat Biotech has not reported any such serious impact. But it cautioned that chloroquine and corticosteroids, both used as repurposed drugs in Covid-19 clinical management, “may impair antibody response” likely to be triggered by the vaccine.
Considering that there could be some initial hiccups in the mass drive, the centre has asked the states and union territories to take certain precautionary measures. The states have been asked to remain prepared to treat the initial adverse impacts soon after vaccination and try to priorities elderly and people with comorbidities in clusters worst-hit by the virus to reach a certain stage of safety level at the earliest. The vaccine recipients would also have to be advised to continue to take the precautionary measures since they could still be the potential carrier of the virus and unwittingly spread it among the non-vaccinated category or their immediate family members.
(Manas Dasgupta)