70% healthcare workers in Punjab skip 2nd Covid shot
AMRITSAR: Of around 40,000 health care workers across the state scheduled to take their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine over the past 10 days from February 13-22, only 11,211 (30%) were actually administered the shots. Besides citing technical glitches in the Centre’s Co-WIN application, experts from health department say that beneficiaries have followed the University of Oxford, which has said that a three-month interval between the two doses results in higher vaccine efficacy than a sixweek gap.
AMRITSAR: Of around 40,000 health care workers across the state scheduled to take their second dose of covid-19 vaccine over the past 10 days from February 13-22, only 11,211 (30%) were actually administered the shots. Besides citing technical glitches in the Centre’s Co-WIN application, experts from health department say that beneficiaries have followed the University of Oxford, which has that a three-month interval between the two doses results in higher vaccine efficacy than a six-week gap.
On Monday itself, 6,269 beneficiaries took the second vaccine shot in Punjab, the highest in ten days. Front line warriors and health care workers are also hesitant to take their first vaccine jab, as only 1.27 lakh have been inoculated in Punjab till Monday evening, against the target of over 5.5 lakh. “Beneficiaries have to take their second vaccine shot between four to six weeks of the first dose. Since they are eligible for taking the second doses after 28 days, the centre’s Co-WIN application automatically schedules a session for them. Beneficiaries, however, are not receiving reminder or invitation messages due to glitches in the app. Many health workers are keen to get the 2nd dose after six weeks,” said state covid-19 nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar.
He added, “Health workers believe that the greater the time interval between two doses, the greater will be the efficacy. Since no major side effect of vaccine was reported in Punjab, they must come forward.”
“Many healthworkers received minor reactions after their first dose and cases of fever, pain on injection site and dizziness were reported. Now, they are hesitating to take the second shot, fearing side-effect,” said a health expert.
Patiala civil surgeon Dr Satinder Singh said, “Nearly 70% of health workers are attending their schedule sessions for second dose and those who are missing their turns are following the UK pattern of six-week gap. No beneficiary has refused to take the second shot.”
Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that health care workers and other medical professionals who do not get vaccinated against Covid-19 despite their registration will bear their cost of treatment and will not be allowed to avail quarantine or isolation leaves.
The Covid-19 death toll in Punjab rose to 5,769 on Monday with 15 more fatalities, while 389 new cases pushed the infection count to 1,78,847. There are 3,167 active Covid-19 cases in the state currently.