CHENNAI: The
Tamil Nadu government doctors association (TNGDA) has advised all its members to opt for the
Covishield vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India, as the vector-based vaccine is in use for nearly two months without any major side effects reported.
The other vaccine approved for emergency use is Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.
Last week the government doctors’ association said it would put out an advisory for doctors based on opinions from three independent specialists on the safety, efficacy and choice of vaccines offered.
On Thursday night, a circular from the association urged all doctors, except those who have contraindications, to take the vaccine.
“All doctors and healthcare providers are at high risk of contracting Covid-19 in their daily routine. Covisheild has completed phase 3 human trials and has published the results. On the other hand, Covaxin is yet to complete the phase 3 trials and come out with the results. Covishield has shown good immunogenicity,” it said.
Although the Union health ministry said beneficiaries will not have the option to choose between the two vaccines, the association has asked doctors to 'insist' on Covisheild.
Public health officials said that as of now most vaccinations will be done with Covisheild. The state has redistributed these vaccines to districts for the vaccination programme scheduled to begin on January 16. The state has received 5.36 lakh doses of vaccines against Covid-19, including 5.36 lakh doses of Oxford vaccine Covisheild.
The state has reserved 24,300 doses of Covisheild and all 20,000 doses of Covaxin it received as buffer stock. While officials did not assure if beneficiaries will be allowed to choose between vaccines, joint director (immunisation) Dr K Vinay Kumar said that the vaccination officer will brief the beneficiaries about the vaccine.
“They will tell them what vaccine they are getting and when they will receive the booster shot. In addition, a text message will be generated through the CoWin portal,” he said.
TNGDA says indigenous Covaxin, manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharath Biotech, has live attenuated method using the SARS-Cov2 virus may be preferred at a later date if their phase 3 results are better.
"The mRNA vaccines also show good results with regard to safety and efficacy. But the Sputnik vaccine, also in public use, has not completed phase 3 trials and is hence not recommended,” said association president Dr K Senthil.
It has recommended the vaccine to all specialities and general practitioners, particularly those working in Covid-19 wards, physicians, pulmonologists, otolaryngologists, anesthetists and other specialists doing clinical work in testing labs and scan centres, he said.
The state wing of IMA urged its members to spread public awareness about the benefits and safety of the vaccine and counter myths on vaccines that are prevailing among the public.
State president P Ramakrishnan said the vaccines have been proven to be safe with negligible side effects. "Unless 70-80% of the population achieve immunity we cannot get herd immunity," he said.