AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria on Monday talking to the press in an attempt to establish trust among the public towards the vaccine stated that the vaccine won’t kill them. The beneficiary of the vaccine might develop allergies to the inoculation but will not succumb to death because of it.
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged India’s biggest vaccination drive on 16th January, people have been apprehensive about the efficacy of the vaccines approved. The controversy especially clouds the indigenously developed Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin which was provided restricted emergency use only because of its ongoing clinical trials.
AIIMS Director Guleria addressing the allergies observed in those vaccinated said that “a person upon consuming Crocin or Paracetamol may develop allergies but doesn’t die of it. Allergies like fever, body ache, and pain at the injection site shall subside in a day or two. There is nothing to worry about. The most severe side effects include oily skin rashes and difficulty in breathing.
Nationwide Covid Vaccination drive which started on 16th has about 2,24,311 beneficiaries who have received first of the two scheduled doses and a total of 447 recipients have reported adverse effects following immunization (AEFI).
Two vaccines Serum Institute of India and Oxford’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin were given emergency use only authorization by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Covaxin, still in the last stage of its clinical trial has faced heavy criticism from doctors, scientists, and researchers. This criticism eventually leads to apprehensiveness among the recipients.
Guleria said that the only way normalcy can be achieved again is when people turn up for getting vaccinated. The mortality rate could be brought down, the economy could be brought backtrack, schools could be opened and the Covid-19 pandemic would be ended only if people spare the apprehensiveness and get themselves inoculated.
The Director of AIIMS to encourage people towards the viability of vaccine got vaccinated on the live telecast. He was the third person to get vaccinated in the institute. In a bid to allay the fears surrounding the efficacy, he even stated that he is experiencing no side effects and is feeling alright.
