The Covid-19 Vaccination Drive: What Senior Citizens Need to Know

All you need to know about the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India.

India rolled out her first mega Covid-19 vaccination drive on January 16, the ‘world’s largest vaccination drive’ until now. Latest reports reveal that around 2.24 lakh healthcare and frontline workers have been vaccinated in the first two days of the drive. According to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19, older adults above 50 years are on second priority to get the jab right after frontline workers. Keeping in mind the various queries and confusion that a senior citizen may have about the first of its kind Covid-19 vaccine, Silver Talkies reached out to Dr Arvind Kasthuri, Professor and Coordinator, Senior Citizen Health Service, Department of Community Health, St Johns Medical College, Bengaluru to get his expert opinion on everything we need to know about the vaccine before opting for it. Excerpts below.

Dr Arvind Kasthuri

Q. At present, how many Covid-19 vaccines are available in India? What do we need to know about them? Are there any other upcoming vaccines?

Dr Arvind: At the moment we have two vaccines in India – COVISHIELD and COVAXIN. There are 7 other vaccines in various stages of development, but these will take time to get approval for general use.

COVISHIELD is based on the Oxford University/Astra Zeneca vaccine and is built on a weakened version of a similar virus which causes the body to provoke an immune response. COVAXIN uses an unactivated version of the COVID-19 virus, which will provoke the body to mount an immune response.

Both the vaccines are considered to be safe, and they produce an immune response when given to people. COVAXIN has yet to publish the efficacy data, which means the data on how many people got COVID infection after getting the vaccine compared to how many got it when they were not given the vaccine. The Government, therefore, is releasing COVAXIN on a “trial” mode, where those who get it will be monitored actively for a few weeks after they get the vaccine. COVISHIELD is considered to be about 70% efficacious in this context.

Q. What is the rollout plan for the Covid-19 vaccine in India?

Dr Arvind: The rollout plan is to first target healthcare workers, followed by those above 50 years of age and those below 50 with chronic disease. The healthcare worker rollout began on January 16 and is expected to take a month or so. In this time, the vaccine will be made available to healthcare workers who register with the government health authority. Both vaccines are available, with COVISHIELD being supplied to some districts and COVAXIN to others.

In a given location, the healthcare workers cannot choose which vaccine they receive and the vaccine that is supplied to them will be offered free of cost. If a healthcare worker opts not to receive the vaccine, he or she will have to wait till the vaccines are available in the open market, when they can buy them.

Q. How many vaccination centres will be put up across the country?

Dr Arvind: Vaccines will be offered through both government and private hospitals. For instance, 273 such vaccination centres have been identified in Karnataka, including 6 in Bengaluru on Day 1 and this is likely to increase in the weeks ahead.

Speaking of Karnataka, at the moment, the centres are largely government hospitals (with the exception of St John’s hospital, the only private hospital to be identified on Day 1), but large private hospitals and medical colleges are likely to be identified as vaccination centres in the days ahead. Each centre has been given a clear guideline as to how their infrastructure and logistics must be handled. Each centre will have one or more vaccination booths, with each booth vaccinating a maximum of 100 individuals in a day.

Q. Where do senior citizens stand in terms of priority? Could you please give us a rough estimate of the different criteria that should decide on the priority among older adults to get vaccinated?

Dr Arvind: As stated earlier, the first phase is targeting healthcare workers and frontline workers. Those above 50 years of age including seniors, will be targeted next. At the moment, there is no guideline developed as to who within the group of seniors will receive higher priority – older adults, those with comorbidities or other considerations. We anticipate clarity on this in the weeks ahead. It is better to wait and watch what the government plans.

Q. Please throw some light on the dosage of the vaccination. Will it be different for senior citizens compared to the children and the youth?

Dr Arvind: The dose of the vaccine is 0.5 ml given intramuscular, on the left shoulder. It is given in two doses, 4-8 weeks apart. It is currently not recommended for those below 18 years of age, but the dose will not be different for those who are above 50 years.

Q. Will there be any side-effects of this vaccination among older adults? If yes, what are they?

Dr Arvind: The common side effects of both the vaccines are as with any other – injection site pain, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, discomfort, mild fever, chills and nausea. These are reported to happen in about 1 out of 10 people who get the vaccine. In general, any side effect that is disturbing must be reported to the site where the vaccine was received, or to a family doctor who will advise appropriate medication, usually mild anti-inflammatory drugs like Paracetamol.

A lot of us took the vaccine in the last few days, including myself. We’re doing fine, so far so good.

Q How do senior citizens register to get vaccinated?

Dr Arvind: Frankly speaking we still do not have the registration plan for the senior citizens as it will take some time to finish vaccinating the first two target priorities- the health workers and the frontline workers and then move on to the senior citizens.

At present, for the institutional health workers, the institution submits a list of their employees to the municipal health authority (E.g., BBMP for Bengaluru) and registers them. The health authority informs each health worker about the date, time and site of the vaccination via a text message. The non-institutional health workers have been asked to get registered by themselves with the local health authority. By the time we move on to the general public and begin with senior citizens, I am sure we will have some means of online registration as we cannot expect seniors to register themselves on their own.

Q. Are there any precautions that need to be taken before or after getting the vaccine?

Dr Arvind: There are no specific precautions to be taken before or after getting the vaccine. The conditions which are important considerations to decide if vaccination should not be taken/should be taken with precaution include the following:

– Known allergy to the vaccine or any of the components of the vaccine

– Pregnant women and those who are nursing their infants

– People who are severely ill at the time of vaccination should wait till they are well

– Immuno-compromised individuals, that is individuals who are taking any drug or suffering from any condition which makes their immune system weak may not get the same immune response as others. The family doctor should be able to advise on this.

– People with bleeding disorders or those taking aspirin. The vaccine is given into the muscle and this may cause bruising or bleeding in such individuals.

– People who have had COVID 19 infection can take the vaccine 4-8 weeks after testing negative.

India has begun its second phase of Covid-19 vaccination rollout from March 1 for regular citizens targeting the senior citizens and those in the middle age bracket with comorbidities.

Want to know about the registration process for the vaccine? Below is the guideline.

User Guide – Citizen registration Ver 1.1 (1)

Here’s a state-wise list of both government and private hospitals offering Covid-19 vaccination. The cost of the vaccination at private hospitals will be up to Rs 250 per person per dose, while this is free of cost at government health facilities.

BENGALURU

Government centres

KC General Hospital, Jayanagar

General Hospital, Bangalore

Medical College and Hospital

Bowring Medical College Hospital

CV Raman General Hospital

Private centres

Vikram Hospital

Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road

Raghavendra People Tree Hospital

Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences

Columbia Asia Hospital, Yeshwanthpur

Apollo Hospital, Sheshadripuram

Columbia Asia Hospital, Sarjapur

Columbia Asia Hospital, Whitefield

Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road

Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road

Sparsh Hospital

Rajarajeswari Medical College & Hospital

BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences

Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal

Aster CMI Hospital, Hebbal

Apollo Speciality Hospital, Jayanagar

Dayanand Sagar Hospital, Kumaraswamy Layout;

Mallige Hospital

Sushrusha Hospital

MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital.

All rural centres in Karnataka will have both online and walk-in registration and vaccination, according to the health department.

DELHI

Government hospitals

Aruna Asaf Ali Govt. Hospital

Balak Ram Hospital

GB Pant Hospital

Hindu Rao Hospital

Kasturba Hospital

Lok Nayak Hospital

Maulana Azad Medical College

Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital

ESI Hospital Rohini DH

Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital DH

Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital Rohini DH

CRPF Composite Hospital, Jharoda Kalan

RHTC Najafgarh

Private hospitals

Delhi Heart and lung hospital

Jeevan Mala Hospital

Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital, Pusa Road

St. Stephens Hospital

Indian Spinal Injuries Centre

Metro Hospital and Cancer Institute

Saroj Medical Institute, Jail Road, Rohini

Sunrise Hospital, Rohini

Mool Chand Kharaiti Ram Hospital

National Heart Institute

VIMHANS Hospital

Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, Punjabi Bagh

Sanjeevan Hospital, Daryaganj

CHANDIGARH

Government Hospitals

GMCH-32 CHD B Block 5th Floor Site 1

GMCH-32 CHD B Block 5th Floor Site 2

GMSH-16 CHD OPD Block 5th Floor Site 1

GMSH-16 CHD OPD Block 3rd Floor Site 2

Police Hospital, Sector 26, Chandigarh

Police Hospital, Sector 26 Chandigarh Site 2

Civil Hospital, Sector 45, Chandigarh

Civil Hospital, Manimajra, Chandigarh

HWC (Dispensary), Sector 49, Chandigarh

PGIMER Lecture Theatre Complex, Chandigarh

Advance Pediatric Centre PGI, Chandigarh

Community Centre, Sector 23, Chandigarh

ESI Hospital, Ramdarbar, Chandigarh

Sites for online registration

GMSH 16 CHD OPD Block

GMCH 32 CHD B Block

Civil Hospital Sector 45 CHD

Civil Hospital Manimajra CHD

HWC, Sector 49

Private centres

Santokh Hospital, House Number 846, Sector 38-A

Chaitanya Hospital, Site No. 1 and 2, Sector, 44-C

Healing Hospital and Institute of Paramedical Sciences, SCO 18-19, Sector 34-A

Landmark Hospital, House Number 846, Sector 38-A

Dharam Hospital, House Number 2040, Sector 15-C

The Government COVID Vaccination Centres (CVC) will provide free vaccinations to age-appropriate groups, However, private hospitals will charge Rs 250 per person per dose.

PUNE

Currently, Pune has 14 Covid vaccination centres.

Kamla Nehru Hospital in Mangalwar Peth

Jayabhai Sutar Hospital in Kothrud

Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Yerawada

Sassoon General Hospital

Ganagaram Karne hospital on Nagar road

Kalas Hospital in Yerawada

Malti Kachi Hospital in Bhavani Peth

Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Dias Plot

Bindu Madhav Thackeray Hospital in Warje

Bartakke Hospital in Warje

Bhangire Hospital in Mohammadwadi

Pote Hospital in Sahakarnagar

Aundh Institute of Medical Science in Aundh

Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital in Koregaon Park

HYDERABAD

Gandhi Hospital

Osmania General hospital

Fever Hospital

ENT Hospital

SD EYE Hospital

DH King Koti

AH Malakpet

AH Golconda

AH Nampally

Paldar UPHC

Nizamia TIBI Hospital

ESIC Medical College Hospital

KERALA

Government centres

TSC Hospital Private Limited, N.H By pass road, S N Nagar, Kulathoor, Thiruvananthapuram

Attukal Devi Institute of Medical Sciences Ltd., Attukal, Manacaud Po., Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695009

India Hospitals, Gandhari Amman Kovil Rd, Santhi Nagar, Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695001

Goutham Hospital, PB No. 868, Panayappilly, Kochi – 682 005

Silverline Hospital # 53/307 A, K P Vallon Road, Kadavanthara P O., Kochi: 682020

Lakshmi Hospital, Diwan’s Road, Ernakulam: 682016

ASSAM

Government centres

Guwahati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati

Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh

Silchar Medical College & Hospital, Silchar

Jorhat Medical College & Hospital, Jorhat

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College & Hospital, Barpeta

Tezpur Medical College & Hospital, Tezpur

Diphu Medical College & Hospital, Diphu

Private centres (All in Guwahati)

Apollo Hospital

Downtown Hospital

GNRC Hospital

Healthcity Hospital

Nemcare Hospital

Marwari Nursing Home

CHENNAI

Public Health And Welfare Society, Ramakrishnapuram, West Mambalam

Appasamy Hospitals, Arumbakkam

Sampat Nursing Home, Mylapore

Faith Multispecialty Hospital, Konnur, Villivakkam

Soorya Hospital Saligramam, Saligramam

Xcellent Care Super Speciality, Velachery

Thalessemia Welfare Hospital, Taramani

Prashanth Hospital Velachery, Velachery

Adyar PM Hospital, Adyar

Bloom Health Care, Velachery

Abhijay Hospital Perambur, Venkatesan, Perambur, Chennai

Hycare Super Speciality Hospital, Arumbakkam

MUMBAI

CAMA Hospital

Jaslok Hospital

HN Reliance Hospital

Saiefee Hospital

Breach Candy Hospital

Bhatiya Hospital

Kasturba Hospital

TNMC & BYL Nair Ch. Hospital

JJ Hospital

Wockhardt Hospital

Prince Aly Khan

KEM Hospital

Global Hospital

LTMC & GH Sion Hospital

K J Somaya Hospital

Hinduja Hospital

SL Raheja Hospital

SRRC Children Hospital

BKC Jumbo Hospital

K B Bhabha Hospital, Bandra

Lilavati Hospital

Holy Family Hospital

Seven Hills Hospital

Cooper Hospital

Nanavati Hospital

Kokilaben Hospital

Nesco

SK Patil Hospital

MW Desai Hospital

BDBA Hospital

Dahisar Hospital

Bhagvati Hospital

Kurla Bhaba Hospital

Centennary Govandi Hospital

Barc Hospital

MAA Hospital

Rajawadi Hospital

Hindu Mahasabha Hospital

LH Hiranandani Hospital

Veer Savarkar Hospital

Mulund Jumbo

Sushrusha Hospital & Research Centre, Vikhroli

KJ Somaiya Hospital & Research Centre

PD Hinduja Hospital & MRC

Kaushalya Medical Foundation Trust

Masina Hospital

Holy Family Hospital

S L Raheja Hospital

Guru Nanak Hospital

Bombay Hospital

Fortis, Mulund

Conwest & Manjula S Badani Jain Hospital

Holy Spirit Hospital

Surana Sethia Hospital

Tata Hospital