Vaccination

Against
Covid-19
Basic Information

Dr.Subhashish Das, CMS

 What is a Vaccine?
A vaccine is a Biological Preparation that provides active acquired
immunity to a Particular infectious disease.
Nowadays, a Vaccine typically consists of;
• Weakened forms of the microbe
• Or, killed form o the microbe
• Or, its toxins
• Or, one o its Surface Proteins
• Or, made synthetically that resembles the microbe

The vaccine components stimulate the body’s immune system and

develop ANTIBODIES against it so as to further recognize and destroy
any micro-organisms associated with the agent
That it may encounter in the future.
Who are to be vaccinated?
1. Healthcare Workers , Medics and paramedical staff
2. Frontline Workers…. and first responders like paramedical staff,
civil servants, police, army, politicians and their relatives .
1 and 2 together about 3 crores
3. Age > 50 yrs
4. Age < 50 yrs with Co-morbidities….. like diabetes, HT, transplant and
chemotherapy patients 3. and 4 together about 27 crores
5. Healthy adults, teenagers 18 yrs and above
6. Children and last neonates if at all after ongoing trials are over.
What is the recommended dose and
schedule?

Two doses given 21 days or 28 days apart depending on vaccine used.

What if I take only one dose?

One dose will give you only partial protection of maybe 60-80% and will
not last long enough. For complete protection you must take two doses at
recommended intervals.

What if I forget to take the second dose? Should

I take the first again?
Just take the second dose at the earliest. No need to repeat the first
dose.
 Why two doses?
The first Shot: helps body recognize the virus or its products and gets
Immune system ready
The second shot: Strengthens the Immune system
How will it be given?

Through public and private centres, by doctors,

dentists, nurses and trained
paramedics
Do you need to take it even if you had Corona?
After how many days of getting cured?

Yes. But that will be last in the priority list. You can let others take
who probably need more than you. You might need it earlier if you
did not develop an antibody response.
Can it be administered to an individual who has
received plasma as treatment for Covid?

The donor plasma contains anti Covid-19 antibodies and may suppress
the immune response to the vaccine. As it is, those who have
recovered from Covid-19 may not need the vaccine in the early
phases.
Can a diabetic patient take the
vaccine?
Yes, in fact diabetes has been established as a risk factor for
severe disease and all diabetic patients must get vaccinated on
priority
If offered a choice of vaccines,
which one should I take?
All vaccines are offering equal efficacy although local
reactions may be different. Take whatever available. Think
positive that at least you are being offered a vaccine ahead of
others.
Indian manufactured vaccines will be more suitable for our
population as they are cheaper and can be kept at 2-8 degree
Celsius.
The mRNA vaccines require a storing temp of -70 (Pfizer) and -
20 (Moderna) which may be difficult to maintain in summer
months.
How many days after getting vaccine,
would I develop protection?

Best protection starts 10 days after second dose. Efficacy

is around 70-90% against all severity and 100% against
hospitalization. Immediate aim is to prevent
hospitalisation and mortality.
Can it be given to
immunocompromised
individuals?

The mRNA vaccine and inactivated vaccines are safe.

AZ and Sputnik-V adenovirus vector vaccines are also
safe as they are nonreplicating viral vector vaccines.
Live vaccines and replicating viral vector vaccines will
have to be avoided.
I am allergic to egg. Can I take the
vaccine?
Egg cell lines are not used for production of these vaccines. They can be taken
safely even if you are allergic to egg.

I heard that it has pig or monkey products? I am

a pure Vegetarian

The new vaccines manufactured these days are devoid of any such products.
 There are messages going around that
mRNA from vaccine gets incorporated into
the human genome and alter our genetic
structure. Is that true?

mRNA vaccine carries a message to the cell to produce

spike protein which induces antibody production. It does
what it is directed to do. Till date there have been no
adverse events reported.
What is the interaction of alcohol
and Covid vaccine?
Excessive alcohol can reduce the immune responses to
vaccines. Since Russians are known for heavy drinking,
their government has advised to avoid drinking two weeks
prior to first dose and 6 weeks after the second dose. The
Sputnik vaccine is given as two doses 21 days apart.
Occasional glass of wine or beer will not interfere with the
immune response.
Soon the virus will mutate and we will
need another vaccine. Should we not
wait?
Till now the virus has not shown tendency to mutate like the Flu
virus. Moreover, the vaccines being developed have taken this into
consideration and should still work.
What if I do not want to take the
vaccine? Will it be made
mandatory?
In majority of countries, it will not be mandatory. You
have to choose between the new viral disease with no
specific treatment and a new vaccine. Choice is yours.
As initially there will be a huge demand supply gap, by
not taking a vaccine you can help others.
Can I roam around without a mask
once I am vaccinated?
No, not as of now. One may do so only when the
majority of the population has either got the disease
or received the vaccine. This means the population
has developed herd immunity.
What is CoWIN?
It is the world’s first, digital, end to end, vaccine distribution
and management system. It includes beneficiary
registration, authentication, document verification, session
allocation, AEFI reporting and certificate generation. Once
the vaccine is available, it will generate a SMS informing
the beneficiary. The vaccine centre itself will be managed
by five people and will give maximum 100 vaccines per
day. The vaccine recipient has to wait for 30 minutes before
leaving the centre post-vaccination.
Is Vaccine safe?
YES: as it has been approved by
authorized regulatory bodies
Is Registration must
for Vaccination?
Yes….along with a valid Photo ID
So that the right person is given the vaccine
 Person with
Active Covid symptoms:
Avoid Vaccination to people with active Covid like symptoms
or symptomatic Covid Positive cases

Such patients
1. Spread infection at the Inoculation Centre/Camp
2. The effects of vaccine during active disease not known

3. BETTER to VACCINATE SUCH PATIENTS AFTER 14 days of Onset of Symptoms

 Vaccination Protocol
1. Only one person to enter vaccination room at a time.
2. Observation wait time for 30min post vaccination 
3. Maintain temp range of +2 to +8 Deg C only not below or
above it.
4. IM in upper arm
5. 0.5ml dosage
6. No VVM on vials
7. To write date and time of opening on vial.
8. Open vials not to be used after 4hours of opening/at
end of the session.
9. Vaccines not interchangeable 
10. DIOs will handover vaccines to respective
11. AD syringes will be supplied as per vaccine doses
12. Vaccine to be avoided in pregnant women and
comorbid individuals presently to be given only in healthy
individuals 
13. Not to be stored in normal refrigerator 
14. Temperature monitoring twice/day
15. Freezing destroys vaccine
16. In freezing temperature areas use warm packets
17. VMF added in your vaccine demand figure
18. Vaccine shelf life 6months
19. Individual vaccinated after 14days of testing negative
20. In AEFI/Anaphylaxis event avoid 2nd dose
21. 2nd dose of vaccine from same manufacturer.
22. If delayed in 2nd dose, to vaccinate as early as possible.
23. No specific duration for AEFI to occur
24. Encourage AEFI reporting 
25. Preferably a dedicated ILR for covid vaccine.
26. Start Dry run in your areas
27. Continuous power supply mandatory.
28. Prevent pilferage and theft, any such activities to be
reported 
29. Never expose vials to direct sunlight 
30. Keep vaccine on table and not on ice pack.
31. Never Pre-fill syringes
32. Use all vaccine contents in a vial before opening a new
vial.
33. Partially used vaccine vials not be used on subsequent
days. Open vial policy not applicable.
34. Vials properly discarded as per BMWs norms.
, India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine
*Covishield* ,
by Serum Institute of India (Oxford AstraZeneca)
is a non- replicating viral vector vaccine. These
are viruses that have been modified to act as
delivery systems that carry the viral antigens to
our immune cells. Chimpanzee adenovirus is the
vector used to deliver the corona virus antigen in
the SII vaccine and human adenoviruses in
*Sputnik* V (Russian vaccine, made in India by
Dr Reddy’s lab
*Covaxin* , by Bharat Biotech India Ltd is a whole cell
inactivated vaccine. Most of the current vaccines being
used in Pediatric immunization, are made by this
technology. Since these are killed viruses, they produce
immunity, but cannot cause the disease.
*Pfizer* and *Moderna* vaccines from USA,
consist of messenger RNA molecules. The
carry the code message which induces the
human cell to manufacture spike protein of the
Corona virus. These proteins are recognised
by our immune system to produce antibodies.
Other Indian companies like
Biological E, Cadila Healthcare and
Genova
are also in advanced stage of vaccine
development.
We will be inoculated with
COVAXIN
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN THE BHARAT
BIOTECH COVID-19 VACCINE (COVAXIN )?
TM TM The BHARAT BIOTECH COVID-19 VACCINE
(COVAXIN ) includes the following ingredients: COVAXIN
contains 6µg of whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2
antigen (Strain: NIV-2020-770), and the other inactive
ingredients such as aluminum hydroxide gel (250 µg), TLR
7/8 agonist (imidazoquinolinone) 15 µg,
TM 2-phenoxyethanol 2.5 mg, and phosphate buffer saline
up to 0.5 ml. The vaccine (COVAXIN ) thus has been
developed by using inactivated/killed virus along with the
aforementioned chemicals
COVAXIN TM, India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by
Bharat Biotech is developed in collaboration with the
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National
Institute of Virology (NIV). The indigenous, inactivated
vaccine is developed and manufactured in Bharat
Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) high containment
facility.

The vaccine received DCGI approval for Phase I & II

Human Clinical Trials and the trials commenced across
India from July, 2020.

After successful completion of the interim analysis from

the Phase 1 & 2 clinical trials of COVAXINTM, Bharat
Biotech received DCGI approval for Phase 3 clinical trials
in 26,000 participants in over 25 centres across India.
WHAT IS RESTRICTED USE IN EMERGENCY
SITUATION?
TM COVAXIN is permitted for restricted use in
emergency situation under Clinical Trial Mode. This
means that the vaccine offered under this plan will be
offered to the restricted prioritized groups only. As you
fell under this TM category, you have been invited to
this booth for administration of COVAXIN . This
administration will take TM place under clinical trial
mode, which is different from clinical trial as effect of
COVAXIN will not be examined against any other
intervention through this effort. You will be monitored
for any adverse event under this clinical trial mode and
supported for medical care under the existing public
health program.
WHAT SHOULD YOU MENTION TO YOUR VACCINATION
PROVIDER BEFORE YOU GET THE COVAXIN
COVID-19 VACCINE?
Tell the Vaccinator/ Ofcer supervising your vaccination
about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
• Are you on regular medication for any illness? If yes, for
how long and for which condition?It is advisable not
to take the vaccine in any of these conditions
• Have any allergies
• Have fever
• Have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
• Are immunocompromised or are you on a medicine
that affects your immune system
• Are pregnant
• Are breastfeeding
• Have received another COVID-19 vaccine
WHO SHOULD NOT GET BHARAT BIOTECH
COVID-19VACCINE(COVAXIN )?
TM
You should not get the BHARAT BIOTECH COVID-19 VACCINE
(COVAXIN ) if you:
• Have any history of allergies.
• Have fever.
• Have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner.
• Are immune-compromised or are on a medicine that affects your
immune system
• Are pregnant.
• Are breastfeeding.
• Have received another COVID-19 vaccine.
• Any other serious health related issues, as determined by the
Vaccinator/Ofcer supervising vaccination.
WILL THE BHARAT BIOTECH COVID-19
VACCINE( COVAXIN )GIVEMECOVID-19?
TM
No. BHARAT BIOTECH COVID-19 VACCINE (COVAXIN ) is
an inactivated (killed) vaccine, and hence, there is
no chance of getting COVID-19 because of COVAXIN
vaccination.
HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO PARTICPATE IN THIS
PROGRAM?
All the Vaccine recipients will be followed-up for a period of
3 months after the 2nd dose of vaccination.
_Are newer and better Covid vaccines
expected in near future?_
As of December 2020, more than 250 vaccines are under
trial in different phases. A lot of research is underway to
develop newer delivery methods also. Nasal spray
vaccine is probably the most promising. A multi dose
nasal spray delivery device can be very convenient and
economical. It will produce local IgA antibodies and block
the virus at entry itself. It will reduce nasal colonisation
and thus prevent transmission of disease also.
Unfortunately, since it will be a live vaccine, it will need
maximum and most stringent trials and thus will take
longest time to hit the market.
Improving Injection Safety
Conduct immunization session at a clean place

Keep hands clean before giving injections

Use sterile injection equipment

Discard contaminated vaccine and injection

If injection site is dirty, wash with clean water

Don’t give injection on infected skin

Prevent needle stick injuries

Select the correct syringe for administering the vaccine

Do not use syringe in damaged, opened or expired packs

Do not touch the needle or rubber cap of the vial

Do not recap / bend the needle / leave the used AD syringe

Cut used syringe at the hub immediately after use

Thank You