Siblings from Silchar given 2nd jab of Covishield in Hailakandi who took 1st dose Covaxin

June 21: In a bizarre incident, a brother and a sister from Silchar were administered shots of two different Covid vaccines. The incident happened at 99- Narayanpur LP School Vaccination Centre at Sheetala Bari Road, Ward No. 10 in Hailakandi on Monday. Sayantan Bhattacharjee and Sagarika Bhattacharjee, the siblings from Tarapur, Silchar took their 1st dose Covaxin (18 to 44 age group) at SK Roy College, Katlicherra in Hailakandi district and Lala Model School, also in Hailakandi respectively on 11 May, 2021 after booking their slots in Cowin portal.

However, they were very worried as they were not receiving any message in their registered mobile number for their second dose of vaccine. However, they were happy to book their slot online again for the second dose of Covaxin in the CoWIN portal on 20 June. On booking their slots, they downloaded their appointment details from the portal wherein it was mentioned that their second dose of Covaxin would be administered at 99- Narayanpur LP School Vaccination Centre at Ward No. 10 in Hailakandi on 21 June, 2021 from 9 AM to 10 AM. It is pertinent to note here that only Covaxin was marked to be available in that particular vaccination centre at the CoWIN portal.

Both Sayantan and Sagarika went to the designated vaccination centre in Hailakandi on Monday morning to get the 2nd jab. They were accompanied from Silchar by one of their relatives who took booked online his slot for 2nd dose of Covaxin in that very centre. On reaching the centre, they handed over their mobile phone to the official who was entering the details in a register. The official who identified himself as Angshuman Nath wrote down every details as it was downloaded in the mobile of the beneficiaries. It was then that the the siblings, Sayantan and Sagarika were given their 2nd dose.

Next went their relative for taking his jab. When the staff Angshuman Nath was entering his particulars from the mobile phone of the beneficiary, he out of curiosity enquired about the name of the vaccine which he would be administered. The staff was initially reluctant to spell out the details, but later on persuasion, he told that he would be administered Covishield. As he too had taken Covaxin as the 1st dose, so he came out without taking the 2nd jab which was Covishield. All three of them then went inside again to find that even Sayantan and Sagarika were also injected Covishield. The staff tried to convince them by saying that this is not at all a matter of concern as both the two vaccines are same. He even assured them that he will make provision so that their certificate of vaccination will show their 2nd dose as Covaxin.

“It was as if the heavens fell on our head. We did not know what to do. As far as our information goes, it was very risky to take shots of two different Covid vaccines. Then I rang one of our senior in Silchar who advised us to do a sting operation, or else it will be very difficult for us to prove the severe irregularity which was being done at that vaccination centre in Hailakandi,” said Sayantan Bhattacharjee.

Hiding their mobile phone, the siblings again went inside and tried to talk with the staff Angshuman Nath. Sayantan Bhattacharjee said, “The person was then talking with someone else over his mobile. He was telling somebody that he was unable to open the online Covaxin site as the internet was not working properly.” It was then that Sagarika said to the person that they were feeling tensed as they were administered Covishield as their 2nd dose, whereas, the 1st jab was Covaxin. The man who identified himself as Angshuman Nath replied, “If two doses of two different vaccines are administered as 1st and 2nd doses respectively, then it would cause no problem at all. Actually, there is shortage of Covaxin, so we are giving Covishield to all. You are educated persons, you can understand that both the vaccines are same and only their names are different.”

The corrupt practice or irregularity done by the health department in Hailakandi became more evident when that staff Angshuman Nath said, “Though you were administered Covishield by us, but we will give you the certificate of Covaxin.” When asked as to how he will do this, he replied, “Keep cent percent faith on us. We have done similar things with many others and they did not face any problem. We can issue you certificate of both Covishield or Covaxin, but I would suggest you to take the certificate of Covaxin.” While they were going out, the staff called them from behind and said, “While issuing the certificate, I might change your location and show it that you were vaccinated in some other centre in Hailakandi.”

The deep rooted vaccine controversy in Hailakandi revealed its ugly face when after coming back to Silchar, the siblings got their ‘Final Certificate for Covid-19 Vaccination’ online from the CoWIN portal at around 5.10 PM on Monday. They were shocked to note that in that certificate it was written that they were given Covaxin at Harkishore High School, Hailakandi. But in reality, they were administered Covishield at 99- Narayanpur LP School Vaccination Centre, Hailakandi.

When way2barak.com tried to talk with the in-charge, Tapas Das of 99- Narayanpur LP School Vaccination Centre, Hailakandi, he said, “The vaccination drive is going on in two rooms of this room. Nothing as such happened in this room. It might have occurred in the other school about which I have no information. Moreover, I am not a staff from the health department. I am here on behalf of the school management.” The person who was posted as in-charge of the centre from the health department, Saugata Nath totally denied the allegation to be baseless. He said, “No such incidents have occured. These are all false claims.”

When our correspondent called Manoj Kumar Das, in-charge of Harkishore High School, Hailakandi and told him that how can certificates of 2nd dose of Covaxin be issued to beneficiaries who were administered Covishield in another vaccination centre in Hailakandi, the man had no reply and said, “I don’t know how this has happened. But in my school/centre everything is done on a fair basis.”

Finally, when way2barak spoke with Dr Ashutosh Barman, Joint Director of Health Services, Hailakandi, he said, “I will have to enquire about the matter. At this moment, I am unable to make any comment on it.” He, however, added, “No side effect has been seen due to the mix up. However, this incident should not have happened and all the health workers have been instructed to give second dose of the same vaccine [beneficiaries were] administered before.” He also added, “The 2nd dose is considered as the booster dose, which is supposed to increase the immunity. So if by mistake the beneficiary has got another vaccine as 2nd dose, than his/her  immunity already developed by the 1st dose will not be effected.” But does not it mean that in such an instance, even the immunity will not be boosted or enhanced? There was no answer to it!

Such an irregularity in the name of vaccination is definitely a blatant violation of the government guidelines. How can the health officials in Hailakandi justify this move. The siblings Sayantan and Sagarika demanded a prove into this matter drawing the attention of the Deputy Commissioners of Hailakandi and Cachar. They have also decided to inform Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma about this irregularity.

As of now, it is not recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India to administe shots of two different Covid vaccines. One need to get two doses of the same vaccine – Covishield or Covaxin – to complete the vaccination cycle.