Punjab now administering Covaxin, many shy away from consent forms
Elderly can get registered through local sewa kendras at ₹30 per person
AMRITSAR: The Punjab health department on Wednesday started administering the vaccine doses of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, along with the Covishield, but many beneficiaries were not keen on signing the consent forms.
Only 522 Covaxin doses were inoculated on Wednesday, mostly to the elderly who are being vaccinated under phase 2 of the vaccination drive.
“Since the Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was granted restricted emergency use approval under the clinical trial mode, people who receive the doses will have to sign a three-page informed consent form, and will also be monitored for any serious side-effects. Since Covishield vaccine is already being administered in the state since January 16 and it no serious side-effects after inoculation, many beneficiaries today demanded Covishield doses as they did not wish to sign consent forms,” said a doctor working with an Amritsar-based private hospital, who only had the stock of Covaxin for administering it to people.
Patiala civil surgeon Dr Satinder Singh said, “We did not face such problem in the district as many hospitals had stock of both Covaxin and Covishield. People had a choice but not many demanded a particular vaccine. Also, we will convince people that Covaxin is also safe and that it is also not causing any side-effects post-inoculation, as we have to save Covishield vaccine for the second dose for health workers and frontline warriors.”
State Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said, “We started administering Covaxin in Patiala and Amritsar on Wednesday and the other districts will also start inoculating Covaxin soon. Since each hospital can get only one type of vacshowed cine — Covaxin or Covishield, we are expecting to face hesitancy in filling consent forms. But if any person wants to take
Covishield, they can visit the hospital with that vaccine. We haven’t received any written complaint on hesitation about singning consents forms yet. Also, no side effect was reported from Covaxin on first day and it is also safe”, said. For the convenience of the people, the state on Wednesday decided to start registration for Covid-19 vaccine through local sewa kendras. One will have to pay Rs 30 for getting registered and for booking a vaccination appointment at a hospital. A communication read, “Applicants may visit the nearest sewa Kendra along with relevant documents and identification proofs to avail the service.”
12 deaths, 778 new Covid cases in state
The Covid-19 infection tally in Punjab climbed to 1,84,310 with 778 new cases reported on Wednesday while 12 more deaths pushed the toll to 5,872, according to a medical bulletin.
10 girl students of Haryana school infected KARNAL: Total 10 girl students of Kurukshetra’s Kanya Gurukul tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. The girls were staying in hostels of the school and were found to be infected after tests of all students and staff were conducted on February 28.