<p>The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed India’s first Covid-19 vaccine-related death, which happened on March 31 when a 68-year-old male who was inoculated with Covishield ten days ago, succumbed to the after-effects of the shot.</p>.<p>A causality assessment report of 31 serious AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) cases reported in February and March, described the incident as the lone case of death due to a “vaccine product-related reaction” so far.</p>.<p>Out of the 31 cases analysed by the national AEFI panel, there are 28 deaths of which only one has been linked to the vaccine whereas, in seven post-vaccination deaths, the cause of the death has been classified as “indeterminate”, suggesting the absence of evidence to link them to the vaccine.</p>.<p>Such vaccine-related reactions have been seen in two other cases among the 31, but both patients who are in their 20s, recovered. One of them received Covishield and the other one Covaxin.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/covid-19-vaccination-no-door-to-door-drive-in-national-policy-centre-tells-hc-997458.html" target="_blank">Covid-19 vaccination: No door-to-door drive in national policy, Centre tells HC</a></strong></p>.<p>Notwithstanding the death, benefits of Covid-19 vaccines far outweigh the miniscule risk, said NITI Ayog member Vinod Paul, who chairs the national task force on Covid-19 vaccination.</p>.<p>"Both vaccines and the third vaccine (Russian origin Sputnik-V) fulfil the safety criteria. Don’t cast doubt on vaccination on the basis of one AEFI report. The risks are miniscule.”</p>.<p>More than 26 crore Indians have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine so far. But overall just about 4% of the Indian population (4.91 crore) have received both doses.</p>.<p>India reported more than 26,000 AEFI cases and 488 post-vaccination deaths between January 16 and June 7. But barring one, none of such deaths is linked to the two vaccines, according to the experts who analysed such deaths.</p>.<p>In India, the number of deaths reported following the Covid-19 vaccination is only 0.0002% of nearly 26 crore doses administered, which is within the expected death rates in a population.</p>.<p>“It is important and pertinent to note that the mortality rates for those testing positive for Covid-19 disease is more than 1% and Covid-19 vaccination can prevent these deaths. The risk of dying following vaccination is negligible as compared to the known risk of dying due to Covid-19 disease,” the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p>In the US, more than 30.2 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered between December 14, 2020, and June 7, 2021, following which there are reports of 5,208 deaths (0.0017%) among the vaccine recipients.</p>.<p>But a review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to Covid-19 vaccines, says the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.</p>
<p>The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed India’s first Covid-19 vaccine-related death, which happened on March 31 when a 68-year-old male who was inoculated with Covishield ten days ago, succumbed to the after-effects of the shot.</p>.<p>A causality assessment report of 31 serious AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) cases reported in February and March, described the incident as the lone case of death due to a “vaccine product-related reaction” so far.</p>.<p>Out of the 31 cases analysed by the national AEFI panel, there are 28 deaths of which only one has been linked to the vaccine whereas, in seven post-vaccination deaths, the cause of the death has been classified as “indeterminate”, suggesting the absence of evidence to link them to the vaccine.</p>.<p>Such vaccine-related reactions have been seen in two other cases among the 31, but both patients who are in their 20s, recovered. One of them received Covishield and the other one Covaxin.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/covid-19-vaccination-no-door-to-door-drive-in-national-policy-centre-tells-hc-997458.html" target="_blank">Covid-19 vaccination: No door-to-door drive in national policy, Centre tells HC</a></strong></p>.<p>Notwithstanding the death, benefits of Covid-19 vaccines far outweigh the miniscule risk, said NITI Ayog member Vinod Paul, who chairs the national task force on Covid-19 vaccination.</p>.<p>"Both vaccines and the third vaccine (Russian origin Sputnik-V) fulfil the safety criteria. Don’t cast doubt on vaccination on the basis of one AEFI report. The risks are miniscule.”</p>.<p>More than 26 crore Indians have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine so far. But overall just about 4% of the Indian population (4.91 crore) have received both doses.</p>.<p>India reported more than 26,000 AEFI cases and 488 post-vaccination deaths between January 16 and June 7. But barring one, none of such deaths is linked to the two vaccines, according to the experts who analysed such deaths.</p>.<p>In India, the number of deaths reported following the Covid-19 vaccination is only 0.0002% of nearly 26 crore doses administered, which is within the expected death rates in a population.</p>.<p>“It is important and pertinent to note that the mortality rates for those testing positive for Covid-19 disease is more than 1% and Covid-19 vaccination can prevent these deaths. The risk of dying following vaccination is negligible as compared to the known risk of dying due to Covid-19 disease,” the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p>In the US, more than 30.2 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered between December 14, 2020, and June 7, 2021, following which there are reports of 5,208 deaths (0.0017%) among the vaccine recipients.</p>.<p>But a review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to Covid-19 vaccines, says the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.</p>
