Thursday, Jun 30, 2022

No Covid vaccine for pregnant women, minors

By Telangana Today

Published: Updated On - 06:58 PM, Fri - 15 January 21

Representation Image The list of AEFI for Covishield include injection site tenderness, injection site pain, headache fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills and arthralgia nausea

Hyderabad: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has released a checklist comprising of indications and contraindications of both Covishield and Covaxin vaccine to all the States.

In a letter to Secretary, Health, Medical and Family Welfare, SAM Rizvi and other senior health officials including State Immunisation Officers and Mission Director of National Health Mission, the MOHFW Additional Secretary, Dr. Manohar Agnani has released a detailed list of AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) that can take place once the vaccines are administered.

The list of AEFI for Covishield include injection site tenderness, injection site pain, headache fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills and arthralgia nausea. Paracetamol may be used to provide symptomatic relief from post-vaccination adverse reactions. Very rare events of demyelinating disorders have been reported following vaccination with the Covishield vaccine. The vaccine should be given with caution to individuals with thrombocytopenia.

The likely adverse events for Covaxin include injection site pain, headache, fatigue, fever, body ache, abdomen pain, nausea and vomiting dizziness-giddiness, tremor, sweating, cold, cough and injection site swelling.

Both the vaccines are not meant for pregnant women, youngsters of less than 18 years and lactating mothers. The vaccines should not be used or administered to individuals who have history of allergies to vaccines, food items, injectable therapies and pharmaceutical products.

Individuals with active symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, Covid positive patients who have been given anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies or CP plasma and acutely unwell and hospitalised with or without intensive care patients due to any illness should also avoid.

Such individuals, however, can be administered with a Covid vaccine after four to eight weeks. Interchangeability of the vaccines is not permitted and the second dose should also be the same Covid-19 vaccine which was administered as the first dose.