Docs who took H1N1 vaccine suffer side effects

 

Mumbai: Some city doctors who got vaccinated against H1N1 have reported minor side effects in the last few weeks. This may discourage other doctors who are still considering whether to take the shot that promises immunity against swine flu for close to 10 months.
    Of the 2,000 doses of H1N1 the BMC was allotted by the Centre in March this year, about 100 doses were recently given to Kasturba Hospital to
be administered to doctors and nurses of KEM, Sion, Nair and its staff. But, while only two doctors of Kasturba have taken the vaccine, just about 56-60 doctors and nurses from across the city have opted for it. This was confirmed by the head of the BMC’s epidemiological cell, Dr Daksha Shah.
    On the second day of receiving the vaccine, about 15 of these medical personnel reported having side effects like nausea, fever, headache, joint pain and gastrointestinal problems. “We advised them to take rest for 3-4 days,’’ said a senior doctor from Kasturba.
    A Nair Hospital doctor complained of acute stomachache after taking the vaccine. “The pain vanished after two days without any medication,’’ he said.
    Medical superintendent of Kasturba, Dr Umesh Aigal, said, “Staffers who took the vaccine were instructed to immediately report any side effects. Some had fever,’’ he said. Aigal said he didn’t take the vaccine.
    Now, the BMC will closely monitor those who got vaccinated so as to rule out any serious side effects till the next six months. The BMC had initially drawn up a list of 800 medical persons to get vaccinated. “Out of 800, just about 200 had agreed to take the vaccine. It is not mandatory for them to take it,’’ added Shah.
    As on Monday, five patients were quarantined at Kasturba. This month, about 30 people tested positive for H1N1, while one died. But Dr Abhay Chaudhary, director of Haffkine Research Institute, said, “We should worry about the virus after monsoon and during winter, not now.’’ Not willing to take chances, the BMC has already shot circulars to private hospitals, asking them to be prepared in case of an epidemic.