Over 17,000 immunised on Day 2, total 447 adverse reactions reported, says Health Ministry

The Union Health Ministry said a total of 447 adverse event following immunization (AEFI) have been reported from across the country over the past two days. On Saturday, India launched the first phase of the world's largest vaccination drive, targeting nearly 2 lakh healthcare and frontline workers on the first day.

Additional Secretary (Health), Government of India, Dr Manohar Agnani addressed the media on Sunday along with Joint Secretary Mandeep Bhandari. The top officials in the Union Health Ministry said that states have been asked to plan vaccination sessions against coronavirus four days a week.

Some states have already declared their dates, Dr Agnani added. He also mentioned that Andhra Pradesh has sought permission to carry out vaccination six days a week.

On Sunday, six states vaccinated more healthcare and frontline workers against Covid-19. A total of 17,072



beneficiaries received the jab in these six states on Day 2 of the mass inoculation exercise.

In addition, the officials also revealed that a total of 2,24,301 people have received the coronavirus vaccines to date. "India has done the highest vaccinations in the world in a day. More than the US, the UK and France," they added.

Asked about post-vaccination adverse events, the Health Ministry officials said a total of 447 cases of AEFI have been reported from across the country. Out of these, three vaccine recipients were in need of hospital care. The recipient vaccinated in Northern Railway Central Hospital in Delhi has been discharged and so has the one treated at AIIMS-Delhi, they said.

The vaccine recipient admitted to AIIMS-Rishikesh is fine now, they added. Most adverse events reported were minor including fever, headache and nausea, top officials of the health ministry said.