Doctors’ association seeks opinion on vaccine safety

Doctors’ association seeks opinion on vaccine safety

TNGDA to issue an advisory for members by January 14

13/01/2021

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

With some doctors expressing concerns over the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and expressing their unwillingness to vaccinate themselves, the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) has sought the opinion of independent specialists on the safety, efficacy and choice of the vaccines offered. They will issue an advisory for members based on the reports.

With the vaccination against COVID-19 for healthcare professionals and workers set to begin soon, the TNGDA sent a circular to all State executive committee (EC) members of the association. The TNGDA said the government had announced the starting of the vaccination drive against SARS-CoV-2. The government planned to launch the drive with two vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin. The Centre had announced the start of vaccination for healthcare professionals on January 16.

“In this situation, some of the doctors and other frontline workers have expressed concern on the safety of the vaccine supplied and if they have a choice. Some doctors have expressed unwillingness to vaccinate themselves for the fear of serious complications vis-a-vis the disease [infectivity and mortality],” the association said in the circular.

Due to the queries raised and the doubts prevailing among some doctors, the TNGDA had sought an opinion by January 13 from three independent specialists on the safety, efficacy and choice of vaccines offered. It will issue an advisory for its members and other stakeholders based on those reports after the scheduled TNGDA emergency executive committee meeting on January 14.

“We will finalise the advisory on January 14. It will mostly be on the type of vaccine to be preferred and who should take it. It is mostly surrounding the safety aspect,” an office-bearer said.