Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the world’s largest inoculation drive against COVID-19 on Saturday at 10:30am, doctors from across the country at various hospitals who took the vaccine shot assured fellow citizens to take the vaccine without fear.
Ahead of the vaccination drive, Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan took to Twitter to respond to questions and bust myths doing rounds regarding the COVID-19 to encourage people to support India in it’s endeavour to fight the pandemic.
Dr.Harsh Vardhan answered questions on side-effects of the vaccination and whether one can be infected with COVID-19 during vaccination as well as whether vaccination will impact fertility of the recipients. As part of emergency use authorization, India has approved two vaccines, Covishield, developed by Serum Institute of India, Pune and Oxford University, London and Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech.
Around three lakh healthcare workers will get COVID-19 vaccine shots at 2,934 sites nationwide on Day 1 of the vaccination drive. India has set a target of inoculating 30 crore essential workers in the first phase of vaccination.
QUESTIONS HEALTH MINISTER ANSWERED:
Are there any known side-effects of COVID-19 vaccines?
As is true for many other vaccines, some individuals may have side-effects such as mild fever and pain at the site of injection and body ache. However, these side-effects are temporary and should go away on their own after some time.
After being administered #COVID19Vaccine, some individuals may have side effects like mild fever, pain at injection site & bodyache. This is similar to the side effects that occur post some other vaccines.
These are expected to go away on their own after some time. #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/VCnJzXu70S
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 14, 2021
Can one contract COVID-19 from the vaccine?
You cannot contract Covid-19 because you have been inoculated with a vaccine, but it is possible to have caught Covid-19 and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment.
Temporary side effects such as mild fever should not be confused as having contracted Covid-19.
You cannot contract #COVID19 because you have been inoculated with a #COVID19Vaccine
Temporary side effects such as mild fever should not be confused as having contracted #COVID.#StayInformedStaySafe @PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/ZkZgLU8tpy
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 14, 2021
Can COVID-19 vaccine lead to infertility in men and women?
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the Covid vaccine could cause infertility in either men or women.
Infertility is not known to occur as a result of Covid-19 disease either.
Please trust only official channels of communication of the government to get correct information about Covid-19.
Kindly do not pay heed to such rumours or information from unverified sources.
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that #COVIDVaccine could cause infertility in either men or women. Kindly do not pay heed to such rumours or information from unverified sources.#StayInformedStaySafe @PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/6ii2EFgpB0
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 14, 2021
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