COVID-19 vaccine: After first jab, surgeon in Kerala hails nation's efforts against coronavirus

Kochi, Jan 16: Receiving the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine in this southern port city, renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr Jose Chacko Periyappuram on Saturday hailed the country's efforts to wipe out the novel coronavirus and said he felt comfortable after the vaccination.

Dr Periyappuram, who performed the first successful heart transplant in Kerala, urged people to not fall prey to the false propaganda unleashed on the social media against the global effort to end the pandemic.

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"Some people have some misconceptions about the vaccination. They are seen carried away by false propaganda unleashed through the social media," he said.

"My message to them is that don't fall prey to such wrong information," he told reporters after completing a 30- minute observation following vaccination at the General Hospital, Ernakulam.

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He said the injection is totally harmless and there are hardly any possibilities of side-effects. "This vaccination will definitely help boost our immunity. This message should be conveyed to society," he said.

Sharing his experience after receiving the first shot, Dr Periyappuram said he did not even feel pain as a well-trained nursing staff did the job efficiently. According to officials, COVID-19 vaccination drive takes place at 12 centres in Ernakulam district on Saturday.