PANAJI: In order to document any adverse effects from the vaccine, the directorate of health services has begun distributing surveillance sheets to all vaccine beneficiaries where they can record any adverse effects for a week following the vaccine.
Those administered the first dose of the vaccine on Saturday were presented with the ‘Adverse Effects Following Immunisation (AEFI) surveillance in health care workers’ sheet.
Vaccine beneficiaries have been asked to tick any symptoms they may experience. These range from pain at site, swelling, itching, fever, fatigue, malaise, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and headache to joint and muscle pain. They have also been asked to record any other symptoms they may experience.
Any of these symptoms must be immediately reported to their incharge or nearest health centre, the beneficiaries were informed.
Only minor AEFIs have been reported in the state till date. There have been no serious AEFIs requiring hospitalisation that have been reported.
Beneficiaries are kept under observation for half an hour after taking the vaccine in case they report any side-effects. They have also been instructed to report to the nearest health centre in the event of any adverse effects. The vaccination cards given to them have the grievance redressal numbers - national level 1075 and state level 104 printed on them.