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Side effects of Covishield vaccine: No cause for worry says medical professional
BY SURESH PERERA
Many people who were administered the Indian Covishield Covid-19 vaccine have developed severe side effects, but a senior medical professional assured that there’s nothing to worry as “it shows that with a very high immune response, the jab is working”.
A health worker in Colombo had even fainted not because there was something amiss with the vaccine, but due to what was perceived as Trypanophobia (extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles), he said.
“In my career, I have come across not only patients, but even health workers who have a morbid fear of injections and surgical procedures so much so they tremble at the thought of undergoing the treatment”, he noted.
Side effects and allergic reactions are not confined to the Covishield jab as it’s a common phenomenon even when it comes to penicillin and certain other antibiotics, the medical professional outlined.
He said that the most common side effects amongst people who had received the Covishield vaccine are fever, body aches and pains, cramps and vomiting.
When told about some health workers who had started to tremble after receiving the jab at a hospital in the south, he assured there was no reason to panic as the reaction to the vaccine will gradually taper off as the body gets hold of it.
“These side effects are not fatal at all”, he stressed, adding that older people are more tolerant of the Covid vaccine.
In a scenario where three to four positive cases are found in every 100 persons screened in Colombo, there could be asymptomatic patients or those with antibodies in their system also receiving the jab, the official opined.
With an extensive Covild inoculation drive, the country will be able to move towards herd immunity, which means that when most of the population is immune to an infectious disease, it provides indirect protection to those who are not immune to the disease, he continued.
It’s akin to vaccinating five people and providing protection to the three others sharing a room with them, he noted.
A consultant surgeon who is 60 years old said that he and his family were administered the Covishield vaccine but no side effects were experienced.
He said that there had been instances where certain antibiotic drugs had led to allergic reactions in patients with some fatalities reported.
“It doesn’t play out the same way in most cases and we should weigh the risk versus benefits. Just as much as antibiotics have killed some people, how many millions of lives have the drugs been able to save?”, he asked.
The risk is minimal with medicinal drugs but the advantages are more in terms of treating the sick and saving lives, he emphasized.
He said inoculating the population against the raging virus is the only way out for Sri Lanka as if the pandemic gets out of hand with transmission levels spiraling, the fallout will be devastating not only socially but economically as well.
So far the Covishield jab has proven its worth and the time is opportune to inoculate more and more people to ensure long-term immunity from the deadly contagion, he added.
“This vaccine will help us prevent the further spread of Covid-19 and thereby overcome the threat by ensuring long-term protection from the virus”, he said.
India donated 500,000 doses of the Covishield jab to Sri Lanka, which were administered to front-line health workers and armed services personnel under the initial phase.
Concerns have been raised worldwide over reports that some people have possible allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines. A team of experts who examined the cases reassured that the vaccines can be given safely, even to people with food or medication allergies.
Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India, the manufacturer of Covishield, warned that people severely allergic to any ingredient of Covid-19 vaccine are advised not to take it.
One should not get the Covishield vaccine if there was a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of the jab, the Institute said in a factsheet for the vaccine recipient on the website to “help the recipient understand the risks and benefits of the Covishield vaccine”.
The ingredients of Covishield vaccine are “L-Histidine, L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Polysorbate 80, Ethanol, Sucrose, Sodium chloride, Disodium edetate dihydrate (EDTA), Water for injection”, the Pune-based Serum Institute said.
Media reports quoted the Indian Health Ministry confirming 447 adverse reactions to Covid-19 vaccines as 224,301 people received the first dose of vaccines in the country as of January 17, 2020.
“Of the 447 Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFIs), three had to be hospitalized, while two of them have now been discharged after 24 hours, one continues to be under observation,” said Manohar Agnani, joint secretary at the Health Ministry.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
