Now that the COVDI-19 vaccine is here, it is time that we all keep an eye on it, and also the checklist, before getting the vaccine. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has released a checklist comprising of indications and contraindications of both Covishield and Covaxin vaccine to all the States.

In a letter to Secretary, Health, Medical, and Family Welfare, SAM Rizvi, and other senior health officials including State Immunisation Officers and Mission Director of National Health Mission, the MOHFW Additional Secretary, Dr. Manohar Agnani has released a detailed list of AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) that can take place once the vaccines are administered.

The list for the Covishield vaccine has some side-effects that one needs to watch out for. Injection site tenderness, pain, headache, fatigue, myalgia, pyrexia, chills, and arthralgia nausea.

The likely adverse events for Covaxin include injection site pain, headache, fatigue, fever, body ache, abdomen pain, nausea and vomiting dizziness-giddiness, tremor, sweating, cold, cough, and injection site swelling.

Both the vaccines are not meant for pregnant women, youngsters of less than 18 years and lactating mothers. The vaccines should not be used or administered to individuals who have a history of allergies to vaccines, food items, injectable therapies and pharmaceutical products.