NEW DELHI: On January 16, India launched world's largest
vaccination drive against
Covid-19, targeting healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase. According to health ministry, a total of 447 adverse events following vaccination have been reported from across the country during the first two days of the drive.
Side effects, adverse events, adverse reactions or adverse drug reactions are often changed interchangeably, but they do not mean the same. TOI takes a look.
SIDE EFFECTSSide effects of a drug/vaccine are mostly predictable. The patient is typically warned by the physician or pharmacist to be aware of the effects that could happen while on the therapy.
COMMON SIDE EFFECTSCommon side effects include
- Redness, tenderness, pain at the site of injection
- The feeling of being sick/unwell
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills or feeling feverish
- Nausea
- Muscle pain/ body pain/joint pain
- Other flu-like symptoms, including runny nose
- Feeling dizzy
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive sweating (a woman healthcare worker in Wagholi exhibited this uncommon symptom on the first day of vaccination)
- Itchy skin or rash
Any untoward medical occurrence which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with the
vaccine is considered an instance of AE. They may be or may not be related to the vaccine.
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION (ADR)When the Adverse Event is found to be related to the vaccine then it is called an adverse drug reaction (ADR). Simply put, ADRs are a subset of AEs, related to the vaccine. When a child gets pentavalent vaccine and gets a fever on the next day, it is an AE related to the vaccine. Hence, it is an ADR.
SERIOUS AE & SERIOUS ADRThe AEs (including ADRs) are further classified into serious and non-serious AEs. The Serious Adverse Drug Reactions (Serious ADRs) are those AEs which are proved to be related to the vaccine.