374 take first Covid vaccine jab in Chandigarh

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 16

On the first day of Covid-19 vaccination drive, 374 healthcare workers were inoculated in the UT against the upper limit of 500 beneficiaries who were to be vaccinated at five sites.

At the GMSH-16, 100 beneficiaries got the vaccine shots while 70 people were vaccinated at the Civil Hospital in Sector 45. As many as 95 beneficiaries received the vaccine at the two sites in the GMCH-32. At the PGI, 109 beneficiaries were immunised.

The turnout at the GMCH-32 remained 47 per cent. There were two vaccination sites at the hospital and the message was sent to more than 200 healthcare workers.

The Director of the GMCH-32, Dr Jaswinder Kaur, who took the jab along with her husband, who is the Head of Pulmonary Medicine, said: “It is a great feeling to be vaccinated against Covid-19. At our hospital, many senior doctor couples took the vaccine together.”

Talking about the tepid response on the first day, Dr Deepak Chawla, nodal officer of the GMCH-32, said: “Those who will come forward to receive the vaccine during initial days will be early adopters. Those who missed the dose due to apprehension or any other reason will be rescheduled. As people’s confidence builds in the vaccine and their hesitancy decreases, a tipping point will be reached.”

Director, Health Services, Amandeep Kang, Medical Superintendent of the GMSH-16, VK Nagpal, senior doctors and IMA members present were among those vaccinated.

Dr Manjinder Singh Randhawa, who is posted in the Paediatric Emergency, received the first shot at the PGI. He urged others to have faith in science and opt for vaccination.

‘All anxieties withered away soon’

Arun (20), a safai karamchari at the GMCH-16, who worked at the forefront in the fight against Covid all these months, got the first jab. He said: “I was quite apprehensive since morning about the adverse events related to the vaccine. But as soon as I received the shot and spent 30 minutes in an observation room, all anxieties withered away. I did not feel even a slightest reaction to the injection. I have been told to take all precautions as the antibodies will take some time to develop. I have also been told to contact doctors in case of any reaction and come back for the second dose after 28 days.”

Now, I can work without fear of Covid-19 transmission: Doctor

One of the oldest beneficiaries to get vaccinated on Saturday was a 70-year-old former doctor of the GMSH-16, Dr Ashok Gupta. He said: “I am feeling quite assured after vaccination. Now, I will be able to do justice to my patients without any fear of Covid-19 transmission.”

Secretary clears air on Co-WIN glitches

On the reports of glitches in the Co-WIN app, UT Health Secretary Arun Gupta said the drive had not been suspended. “All vaccine centres will operate four days a week. We shall held next session on January 19 and dispatch messages on Monday for the same after Sunday break.”