Who, When and When not of Covid Vaccination.

1. History of Anaphylaxis or Anaphylactoid reaction to any drug or food is a strict NO-NO for the vaccine.

2. History of allergic reaction to the first dose is a contraindication to the 2nd dose of vaccine.

3. All others must take the vaccine. The when and how are as follows :-

(a) A person who has suffered from Covid should take it 2 months after the date of Negative Report.

(b) People on immunosuppressive drugs for diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis and other auto immune diseases should stop immuno suppressants for a week before and after the vaccination if clinical condition permits.

(c) Those who have a organ transplant should take the vaccine without stopping the immuno suppressants for whatever benefit it gives.

(d) Blood thinners need not be stopped before vaccination.

(e) What if one tests positive after the first dose? The second dose should be given 12 weeks after the first dose.

(f)  Although, this is not yet officially announced, my personal feeling is that we may have to take 3rd, 4th or even more boosters before the epidemic ends. When and how remains to be decided.

(g) I have no hesitation in claiming that the vaccine will drastically bring down deaths and severe diseases. If that happens, Corona will just remain 'najala aur zukhaam'.

(h) Everything that happens after vaccination is not because of the vaccine. Similarly, every incident must be thoroughly investigated before being waived aside. People die of cardiac arrest almost every hour in India but when they have cardiac arrest after taking vaccine, skeptics start blaming the vaccine for it. We must compare the rate of occurrence of an event with the background rate of that event.

Let us keep faith in the vaccine and ignore those who make skepticism, a way to remain in the news.  

Tailpiece.

Got up around our usual time, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Lekha's certificate clearing her for the vaccination by her doctor was in my mailbox and Jimmy, next door, gave me its printout. After a long agonising wait and many missed calls, I was finally able to get through to the Covid desk at the Rajah Hospital to tell them as to who I was and as to what my call was for. We'd a quick bite of lunch and by the time I had parked our Chevy at the parking lot of the hospital, it was a quarter past 2.

Lekha and I walked into the special ward, the sister at the desk did the spot registration and she was vaccinated by a half past 2. After the mandatory half-an-hour wait and after rechecking her BP and the Oxygen saturation levels of the blood, she was allowed to leave. She was also given the Covid vaccination certificate.

We were back home by 3 and hit the sack for the half-an-hour siesta. Lekha didn't seem to have any difficulty, post Covishield vaccination. I shall observe her all through tomorrow, too, for any unusual reactions.