NEW DELHI: Five fully vaccinated people died of Covid from March to June in India, according to a Right to Information (RTI) response from the Centre. In the same period, another four patients were to be hospitalised following Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI). The Union Ministry of Health made this submission to an RTI application by this correspondent seeking data on Covid deaths post completion of both vaccine doses.
“Based on the information from Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) reports received from districts, four patients were to be hospitalised and five died who tested positive following receipt of both vaccines,” the health ministry said in its response.
Notably, the health ministry said that the immunisation section does not maintain data and therefore no information is available to furnish regarding the details of healthcare workers who tested Covid positive or succumbed due to the infection after receiving vaccines.
After analysing the data between April and August, the ministry on Thursday said that one vaccine dose alone is 96.6% effective in preventing Covid-19 deaths while two doses are 97.5% effective.
"No vaccine can be 100% efficacious. The response to the vaccine can vary from person to person and whether a person has taken both doses. The maximal effect is seen after at least 2 weeks post the second dose. Age, comorbidities and immuno-compromised status are also responsible and play a role in how vaccines will elicit a protective immune response in an individual. The effect of the vaccine on a young and healthy body with that to a 70-year-old with comorbidities will be different. That's why it is said that even after vaccine one needs to continue COVID appropriate behaviour till this pandemic lasts," said Dr Neeraj Nischal, Associate Professor, Medicine at AIIMS.
The doctor further explained how the vaccine works differently from individual to individual.
“Such people remain at a higher risk of testing positive even after receiving both doses. The effect of vaccines on a young and healthy body with that of a 70-year-old with co-morbidities will be different. That’s why it is advised that even after vaccines, one should take precautions,” the senior doctor added.
‘Vaccine efficacy depends on case to case’
According to a senior AIIMS doctor, vaccines are not 100% effective. He added co-morbidities and other factors are responsible for how the vaccine works on a human body. Such people remain at higher risks for testing positive.