Adverse events following immunization low: India

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry said that a total of 4,54,049 people have been inoculated since the commencement of the vaccination drive, and only 0.18 per cent of beneficiaries developed adverse events following immunization, while 0.002 per cent were hospitalized.

“The adverse events following immunization are fairly low. In fact, these are the lowest in the world in the first three days. In India, we have an extremely robust system of adverse events following immunization reporting and management,” said Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a bid to allay fears and vaccine hesitancy.

According to the government’s data, 580 adverse events have been reported so far, out of which seven required hospitalization.

“Only 0.18 per cent of beneficiaries developed adverse events following immunization, while 0.002 percent were hospitalized,” the Health Secretary said.

“There are mild AEFI, severe AEFI, and serious AEFI. In India, anxiety or hysteria is also recorded. We must dispel this notion that AEFI means that people have lost consciousness and were hospitalized. If post-vaccination, I have a crying bout, even that is captured. It may add to the number but it subsides.”

He also said that deaths of two men in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka following immunization were found to be not related to the vaccination.

A 52-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district died due to cardiopulmonary disease one day after being vaccinated, while a 43-year-old resident of Karnataka’s Bellary died due to cardiopulmonary failure two days later.

The nation-wide vaccination drive had kick-started on January 16.

Image courtesy of (File photo)

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