COVID-19 vaccination in Odisha: These people will be debarred from taking vaccine

Bhubaneswar:  As per Centre’s guidelines for the vaccination drive starting tomorrow, people aged below 18 years, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers will not be permitted to take the vaccine shots.

Reiterating the guidelines, Health and Family Welfare Department Director and Odisha Vaccine In-charge Bijay Panigrahi said pregnant women, those not sure of their pregnancy and lactating mothers will not be given the vaccine. Besides, those unwell and hospitalized for any other ailment will be debarred from taking the vaccine shot.

Moreover, those who have been administered with any other vaccine in the last 14 days will not be given the vaccine. People who have had allergic reaction to the previous dose of the vaccine will also not be given the next jab. Vaccination of people with active symptoms of the coronavirus will be deferred for four to eight weeks, the official added.

As per the information provided by the Health Ministry, the adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) include headache, fatigue, fever, body ache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, cold coughs, among others.

It is pertinent to mention here, the immunization drive will be conducted at 160 session sites covering all 30 districts in the state and 100 health workers will be vaccinated at each session site on the first day.