Telangana takes first shot at Covid today, 4,000 to get vaccine

HYDERABAD: With the war on Covid-19 beginning, as many as 4,000 health workers will get the first dose of the vaccine in Telangana on the first day of the drive on Saturday. The jab will be given across 139 centres.
“So far, 3.15 lakh healthcare workers in both government and private hospitals across the state have been registered as beneficiaries on the CoWIN app. We will administer the vaccine to roughly 30 beneficiaries at each centre on the first day and then gradually increase the number,” said Dr G Srinivasa Rao, director of public health.

Rao added that 3.84 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses have reached Telangana so far. Of these more than 50,000 doses were shifted to the 139 centres. This includes 13 centres in Hyderabad.
Both Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin will be administered to the health workers in the state. Stating that both vaccines are safe, the officials said there will be a gap of 28 days between two doses.
“To avoid confusion, all details, including the brand of the vaccine, will be entered in the software and the beneficiaries will be inked on one finger (similar to voting in elections) for identification during the second dose,” the director said. The officials also said that four days of the week will be dedicated to administering the Covid vaccine while the remaining days will be used to administering vaccines for other ailments.
The health department officials also informed that the first few days of the vaccination drive, starting from Saturday, will comprise staff from sanitation wings of the healthcare facilities.
The state has earmarked 57 hospitals including those in district headquarters and teaching hospitals for treatment of vaccine beneficiaries developing adverse reactions following immunisation.
7-day check of health for beneficiaries
Each medical centre will be equipped with intensive care units, oxygen cylinders and other emergency medicines required to attend patients developing adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). Beneficiaries developing adverse reactions after going home can dial ‘104’. Information about the AEFI hospitals will be provided to those calling up.
“The vaccine beneficiary has to spend half an hour in the observation room at the designated vaccination centre after getting inoculated. The observation room will have health staff to monitor the person’s health condition,” said Rao. “AEFI kits will be made available in the observation room and in case of severe reactions, the staff would shift the person to a major healthcare centre in an ambulance,” he added.
The health status of beneficiaries will be monitored for seven days after the vaccine is administered, the health officials said. Meanwhile, health minister Eatala Rajender told people, “The health department has all arrangements in place for the drive. Although we are confident there will not be any adverse reactions, we have all emergency services in place."