PATNA: With Covid vaccination entering the fourth phase from Thursday with inoculation of all people above 45 years of age, doctors and health experts in the city have advised beneficiaries to continue to follow safety norms and healthy food habits and other measures to boost immunity after getting the jab.
In the light of a few cases of people getting infected even after vaccination, doctors have advised residents to follow safety protocols, including wearing face-masks, frequent hand-sanitisation and social-distancing even after taking the jab.
“Apart from adherence to Covid preventive norms, the vaccinated people should continue to take healthy diet and do breathing exercises to boost their immune system. A person gets fully immunized after three weeks of the second Covid vaccine shot. However, they can still get infected but the severity of the ailment will be nominal, like common influenza,” city-based physician Dr Diwakar Tejashwi said.
He added that the authorities should keep track of people getting infected and severely ill even after getting both doses of the vaccine.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar, All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Patna (AIIMS-P) nodal officer for Covid echoed similar views. “People can be a carrier of the virus even after getting vaccinated. Thus, they should follow preventive measures, including regularly sanitise hands and social- distancing as well as doing breathing exercises,” he said.
Most beneficiaries of the Covid vaccine claimed it to be a simple exercise. Retired government employee Om Prakash (68), who took the jab recently, said, “I did not experience any side effects after getting vaccinated. Now, I feel safe and energetic. I would suggest everyone take the vaccine as soon as possible.”
Covid-19 vaccinations started across the country on January 16 with healthcare workers given the jab in the first phase. The second phase of vaccination covering frontline workers, including police, administrative and civic body staff commenced on February 6. Later, people above 60 years, or those above 45 years but with co-morbidities started getting vaccinated from March 1 and now all people above 45 years are getting the vaccines from Thursday.
The beneficiaries have been advised to check pre-existing medical conditions and co-morbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases to avoid side- effects. Fort people with no major medical history, the side effects aren't alarming nor life-threatening.