Nagpur: At least seven doctors and nurses had point blank refused to take Covishield shots when they were contacted on Saturday by the IGGMCH immunization team. On Sunday, TOI spoke to a couple of them to find out the reason for not taking the vaccine, and to some who took the vaccine.
A nurse, who has been working in the Covid ward since March, said she was concerned about her kid in case of adverse effect following immunization (AEFI). “We have a 3-year-old son. My husband is also working. We somehow manage our shifts to take care of him in rotation. We don’t have anyone in the city with whom our son can stay.”
She also added that she was not given time off from work to go and take the vaccine. “I would have gone if a substitute was provided at work. My shift was till 8pm, and I couldn’t leave my ward,” she said.
The nurse also said, though, that following controversies over vaccination she had made up her mind to wait and watch.
A doctor who had refused didn’t directly say no to the vaccine but expressed reluctance. “I don’t want to get vaccinated now. I had to go outstation for some urgent work,” he said.
Another nurse said some urgent work had cropped up, and she had to go out of town. She didn’t say ‘yes’ when asked if she would get vaccinated later this week.
NMC had registered nine refusals at Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital, where the inauguration for the district happened.
An NMC official said, “Five persons received calls but did not turn up after assuring to come, so were placed under refusal. All were ASHA workers of NMC.”
Of remaining four, three are doctors and one ASHA worker of NMC.
One ASHA worker said, “My family members suggested not to take the vaccine on Day-1. I will wait for the results of others who took it, and then take the jab.”
Contacted by NMC staff, three doctors also refused to come and take vaccine, saying they will take it at a later stage. They did not directly cite apprehensions but gave other reasons like not feeling well etc.
At this centre, NMC had kept target of 85 as against centre’s guidelines of 100 per centre. Finally, only 59 turned up and took the vaccine.
Besides the nine refusals, the remaining 17 included one pregnant, two active Covid cases, seven who said they were out of station, and seven who did not respond to calls.
Among those who took the vaccine, zonal medical officer of NMC Ashi Nagar Zone Dr Dipankar Bhivgade said, “I am fine and faced no complications. There were no complaints from others who took the jabs at Pachpaoli centre.” He was the first health care worker to take the dose at the centre
Also, zonal medical officer of NMC Satranjipura Zone Dr Minakshi Mane said, “I have no complications post vaccination. I am feeling mild fatigue, which might be due to work stress.”