NEW DELHI: The Medical Resident Association (RDA) of the Ram Manohar Lohia The hospital here asked the medical superintendent on Saturday to vaccinate them with Covishield, the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine.
In a letter to the medical superintendent, the association said resident physicians were “a bit concerned” about Covaxin and may not participate in the large-scale immunization campaign, thus defeating the purpose of the exercise that began in the country on Saturday.
“We have come to know that the hospital is currently running the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. In our hospital, the covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech is preferred over the Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute.
“Residents are a bit concerned about the lack of a full trial for Covaxin and may not participate in large numbers, thus defeating the purpose of vaccination. We ask that you vaccinate us with Covishield, which has completed all the stages of rehearsal before launch, “the letter read.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign on Saturday, claiming that the Indian-made vaccines being rolled out will ensure a “decisive victory” for the country over the coronavirus pandemic.
In the national capital, the vaccination exercise will be carried out at 81 sites in its 11 districts.
At RML hospital, a security guard was the first to receive the vaccine.
Six central government hospitals – AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML, Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital and two ESI hospitals – have been chosen as sites for the campaign. In addition to these, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Delhi Government Run GTB Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, DDU Hospital, BSA Hospital, Delhi State Cancer Institute, ILBS Hospital se found among vaccination sites.
The private facilities – Max Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Apollo Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital – have also been chosen as locations for the exercise.
According to the government, the vaccines will be offered first to about one crore of healthcare workers and about two crore of frontline workers, and then to people over 50, followed by people under 50 with associated comorbidities.
The cost of vaccinating frontline and healthcare workers will be borne by the central government.
.
