RML RESIDENT DOCTORS RAISE CONCERNS OVER COVAXIN SHOTS

NEW DELHI: A section of resident doctors at the Central government-run Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital expressed apprehension regarding the use of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin on the first day of the Covid-19 vaccination drive, and requested the medical director to give them a shot of Covishield instead.

“We would like to bring to your notice that the residents are a bit apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in case of Covaxin and might not participate in huge numbers thus defeating the purpose of vaccination. We request you to vaccinate us with Covishield, which has completed all stages of trial before its roll out,” the letter written by some of the representative of the resident doctors’ association at the hospital said.

The letter was not on the official letterhead of the Resident Doctors’ Association and had not been signed by the president of the organisation.

Dr Nirmalaya Mohapatra, the vice-president of the organisation and one of the signatories of Saturday’s letter said, “We are not against any vaccine; however safety data from phase 3 is not available for Covaxin. So, Covishield is the logical choice.”

The medical superintendent of the hospital Dr AK Singh Rana said, “The decision on which vaccine the hospital gets decision is taken by senior level officers and it is not my place to question that. However, I will try to speak to the resident doctors on Monday and allay their concerns,” said Dr Rana, who received the shot on Saturday.

“If I did not think the vaccine was safe, I would not have taken it. Perhaps they will see this and decide to get the jab,” he added.