Ranchi: The rate of Adverse Events Following Immunization (
AEFI) is very low and minor in the state, which has reported 42 cases in last seven days since the launch of the Covid-19 vaccination drive on January 16. The total number of people vaccinated during the same period stands at 14,794 across 48 centres located across the 24 districts.
Health department officials said all AEFI cases reported from across state were attended to at the session sites immediately.
Talking to TOI, state nodal officer for the vaccination drive, Dr Ajit Prasad, said, “We have categorised AEFIs in three categories — mild, severe and serious. None of the 42 AEFIs reported so far were of severe and serious nature and all the cases have been provided proper management at the vaccination centre itself. None of those vaccinated have also reported any complication.”
On the responsibility for handling of the AEFI cases at the district level, Dr Prasad said vaccination officers appointed in the districts have been directed to ensure arrangement of AEFI centres in their districts to meet any exigency.
As per the data released by state government; of the total 42 AEFIs, Ramgarh reported 17 cases followed by Dhanbad with 10 cases. Jamtara reported five, East Singhbhum three, Chatra two followed by one each from Dumka, Godda, Gumla, Ranchi and Simdega.
Ramgarh district reproductive and child health officer, Dr Vinay Mishra, said, “We have reported even the smallest AEFI case at our two centres. However, we have been very lucky that all of the adverse events were mild and were attended by our medical teams at the centres.”
On the nature of AEFI, Dr Mishra said, “Some of the beneficiaries reported minor increase in blood pressure, pain at the injection site while a few had developed fever which subsided immediately after providing them medication. The development of adverse events shows that the vaccine is working and will be effective as it has been always with other vaccination programmes implemented earlier.”
Meanwhile, officials in Dhanbad, which has reported 10 AEFIs, could not be contacted for their comments on the cases.