India’s biggest vaccine administration was kicked off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, January 16, 2021, nationwide for the frontline warriors, especially the doctors. However, the doctors getting vaccinated have expressed concerns about getting administered the indigenous Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.
The Medical Superintendent of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital Delhi received a letter from the Resident Doctors Association of RML expressing their concern about the efficacy of Covaxin. They later stated that the doctors are “apprehensive” over getting vaccinated by Covaxin and also reported that in the vaccine drive at their hospital, Covaxin was being preferred over its peer Serum Institute’s Covishield.
The distrust surrounding Bharat Biotech’s vaccine is because the vaccine is still in its stage three of clinical trials and yet has been provided authorization by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for administration which imposes a great hazard on the health of the doctors.
Bharat Biotech, Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR), and National Institute of Virology in collaboration manufactured the Covaxin vaccine but received restricted authorization for the same reason. It is notable that just yesterday, Covaxin’s approval for administering those aged 12 years and above was rebuked and was authorized as emergency use only for 18 years and above, only following the death of one of its volunteers from Bhopal and development of adverse symptoms among others.
Doctors all over the nation have also expressed their desire for getting vaccinated by Serum Institute of India-manufactured Covishield because it had completed all the stages of clinical trials and adheres to the protocols. Dr. AK Singh Rana, the Medical Superintendent of RML Delhi later evening got administered by Covaxin to establish trust amongst the doctors for the indigenous vaccine.
Dr. Atul Krishna the General Secretary of RML Delhi, when asked about the Resident Doctor Association’s letter stated, “Yes, there was some apprehension in doctors towards Covaxin because it was still in its last stage trials and hence imposed a certain level of danger. Covishield was preferred by doctors because it had completed the trial stages and was ready for rollout”. “But, now there is no apprehension and Covaxin is being administered in all the central medical institutes including Ram Manohar Lohia, the Senior Doctors receiving the dosage first.
The management has trust in the government and the administration’, added the General Secretary of RML Delhi in his comment. NITI Aayog member VK Paul requesting the citizens said, “Today India has two great vaccines, please accept whichever vaccine you’re being allotted”.
