India’s healthcare workers who will be among the first to get Covid-19 vaccine as the country begins its immunisation drive from January 16...
India’s healthcare workers who will be among the first to get Covid-19 vaccine as the country begins its immunisation drive from January 16 are torn between their professional commitments and personal well-being, amid concerns about the safety and efficacy of at least one of the two approved vaccines.
“We are apprehensive,” said Manish Mishra, a doctor at the government-run Patna Medical College and Hospital in Bihar. “But we have very little choice since we are the first points of contact with patients. If we are infected, we can infect a large number of patients.”
India will begin its vaccination drive with two options in the armoury: Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech’s indigenously-developed Covaxin vaccine.
Many scientists and doctors believe India’s drug regulator rushed into clearing Covaxin – it has no large-scale efficacy and safety data so far.
Controversial Covaxin
Government authorities have strenuously tried to allay concerns about the safety of Covaxin.
A member of the national task force on Covid-19 management, Randeep Guleria, initially said the vaccine will only be used as a “back-up” in case of a surge in cases.
He added it will be given in the “clinical trial mode” – which means the consent of the recipients will be sought and...
