Medics receiving shots of Covishield feel upbeat as they report no pain, allergies

Published On: January 28, 2021 07:22 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Almost 10,000 frontline workers got a shot of the vaccine on the first day of the campaign

KATHMANDU, Jan 27: When Sumitra Gautam, medical superintendent of Bhaktapur Hospital, was sitting on a chair to get a shot of ‘Covishield’ vaccine; she thought the jab would be painful. But her anticipation was proved wrong.

“I did not feel a iota of pain. Even after a few hours getting vaccination, I felt no pain in my arm. There is no sign of allergy. Nor am I feeling any discomfort,” Gautam told Republica after getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

A few months ago, Gautam had received a jab of Tetanus vaccine. “I felt pain in my arm for a few days after getting a shot of Tetanus vaccine. I had a fever for 24 hours after getting Tetanus shot. But the shot of the ‘Covishield’ vaccine was painless,” said Gautam, encouraging everyone not to panic while getting a jab of COVID-19 vaccine.

The government is inoculating at least 450,000 frontline workers fighting against COVID-19 in the first phase of vaccination drive.

As of Wednesday evening, there have been no reports of allergies or infections among frontline workers who received shots of COVID-19.

The vaccination drive against COVID-19 across Nepal started Wednesday morning following an inauguration by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. On the first day of the campaign, almost 10,000 frontline workers got a shot of the vaccine.

According to Spokesperson at Teku Hospital Dr Anup Bastola, there have been no reports of allergies or infections from those getting a shot of the vaccine. “Even I got a shot of the vaccine, and there are no signs of allergies as of now,” said Bastola.

Like Gautam, Bastola also felt no pain while getting a jab of ‘Covishield’. “The vaccine is absolutely safe, and medics should not panic to take this. I had got an injection for seasonal flu a few months ago, and it was painful,” said Bastola, expressing his happiness of getting a shot of vaccine in the time of global pandemic.

According to reports, some people have developed allergies after getting a jab of the ‘Covishield’ vaccine. ‘Covishield’ is an intramuscular vaccine, and 0.5ml should be injected in muscle.

As there have been reports of allergies in foreign countries, the government has asked those getting vaccinated against COVID-19 to stay at vaccination centers for 45 minutes before leaving the center.

The medics Republica talked to said they have not developed any kinds of allergies after getting the shots of the vaccine.

Likewise, Prakash Subedi, a security guard of Parbat Kusma Municipality, also said that he felt a slight pain, and did not show any allergy after getting the vaccine. “I was asked to take a rest for 45 minutes. I thought I would feel dizzy. But I have not felt any kinds of complications as yet,” said Subedi a few hours after getting a jab of the vaccine.