Covid-19 vaccine boosts health workers’ morale

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 14

The upcoming week will be the most exciting and hopeful as thousands of healthcare workers will line up to get vaccinated against Covid-19 in the city.

No fever or side effects: Covishield volunteer

Dr Honey Sawhney (57) from GMSH-16, who volunteered for the Covishield at the PGIMER, received his first dose in November and the second dose in the first week of December last year. Dr Honey Sawhney said, “I was absolutely fine after inoculation and got back to routine work after 30 minutes. I did not have fever or any side effects after getting vaccinated. There is no fear because this vaccine is not causing disease, but will activate your body’s immune response to recognise the virus when targeted by it.” Dr Sawhney is also hypertensive. “I take all precautions even after getting vaccinated,” Dr Sawhney added.

Dr Maneesh Chugh from Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, said, “With Covid-19 vaccine there is now a chance of going home self-assured and without the fear of infecting family members.”

“One thing is quite sure that this is the safest vaccine. Just like other vaccines have minor side effects like pain at the injection site, fever or redness, this Covid vaccine has also been designed in the same way. The limited data available on this vaccine also suggests that side effects go within 24 hours,” Dr Chug added while clearing the confusion around vaccine.

“The amount of protection one gets is greater in face of minor side effects. Even if the antibodies wane after six months, one can go for a booster dose. But at present, we need protection against this disease,” said Dr Chug.

Dr Kapish Gupta from the Orthopaedic Department of the GMSH-16, who got infected with Covid-19 in early November, is among the priority group to be vaccinated.

“Any vaccine will develop side effects and being a doctor, we are well aware of this fact. Our friends in the United States have also been vaccinated and are doing well. This vaccine is an inactivated virus that will do no harm to us and only offer protection,” said Dr Gupta.

“This vaccine is going to instil confidence in dealing with patients, which was lost at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Dr Gupta added.

Not only healthcare workers, but the hospital staff, including security guards, have also lined up for the Covid-19 vaccination. Sanjeev Bharti (42), a security guard the GMCH-16, said, “We are on round-the-clock duty at the hospital. Chances of exposure to the Covid-19 infection are quite high. I am willing to get vaccinated for all necessary protection.”

Dr VK Nagpal, Medical Superintendent, GMSH-16, said, “We have been receiving requests from healthcare workers to get vaccinated on the first day. Everybody wants to be among the first 100 to be vaccinated. It is like a festival here.”