By Sampada A. Khatiwada

Kathmandu, Jan. 27: The much-awaited COVID-19 vaccination drive is all set to begin from Wednesday. The one million doses of Covishield vaccines received under grant assistance from India have reached all seven provinces and the frontline health workers, including doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, ambulance drivers and people involved in managing the dead bodies of the virus-infected persons, among others, are being vaccinated in the first phase.

While some have been elated about the government's prompt initiative on making the vaccines against the novel coronavirus available, others are in a dilemma whether to take or not to take the Covishield, suspecting its efficacy and side effects.

With various news reports and information everywhere including the social media about the World Health Organisation not recognising the Covishield vaccine yet and fatalities caused by the administration of the vaccine, which was developed jointly by Oxford University and AstraZeneca Company and produced by the Serum Institute in India, some people are also reluctant about joining the government's vaccination campaign as of now.

However, public health experts have been voicing that the Covishield vaccine is safe to use. For an instance, infectious disease specialist Dr. Prabhat Adhikari said, "In the clinical trial done by various institutions, the Covishield vaccine was found to be 60 to 70 per cent effective. Also, the Food and Drugs Administration of the USA has been approving COVID-19 vaccines that are more than 50 per cent effective. Thus, the vaccine being administered in Nepal from Wednesday is considered to be effective."

Dr. Adhikari added that as the vaccine was developed through new technology, it was safe to use as well. "Vaccination is the last resort to put an end to the ongoing pandemic. Thus, everyone must join hands to bring it into use," he said, adding, "Although a detailed report regarding its side effects is yet to be received, we must look into the risk and benefit ratio of the vaccine as of now."

Fatalities from the administration of Covishield have not been proven yet and various nations, including India, have already been using it. Thus, there is no reason for the public to be reluctant about taking the Covishield vaccine, added Dr. Adhikari. Likewise, Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), said that Covisheld was one of the most effective vaccines being used across the globe.

"The WHO and our Department of Drug Administration have given approval for the use of Covishield under emergency operation. Thus, we are initiating the vaccination roll-out on the basis of the approval."

Stating that detailed information as to the aftereffect of vaccination was yet to be assessed, Dr. Gautam said, "The vaccine is safe to use. We have been able to receive the vaccine in the first month of 2021. This is a matter of happiness and everyone should clear their doubts over the effectiveness of the vaccine."

Likewise, Dr. Rabindra Pandey, a public health specialist, said that the government should focus on generating awareness about the vaccine that is going to be administered to them. "It is the right of people to be aware of nature, way of use and effects of the medicine being provided to them. As it is the responsibility of the government to win public confidence, the concerned authorities must make efforts to clear the doubts of the citizens."

Adding that the Covishield had been administered to over 30,000 people across the world, Dr. Pandey said, "The vaccine has been considered safe in various studies, investigations, and clinical trials and there are no side effects as rumoured. However, people having health issues must consult with expert medicos
prior to being vaccinated."

"We all must be vaccinated to win the pandemic. Having said that, it is the duty of government to guarantee that the vaccines are safe to use," said Dr. Pandey.

"If the public officials, leaders, and celebrities are vaccinated in the first phase, the dilemma of the public including frontline workers about whether or not to undergo vaccination would be cleared," he added.