COVID vaccination to be voluntary, will be on par with global standards: Health Ministry

As India is on cusp of introducing COVID-19 vaccines in country, Union Health Ministry on Friday said that getting vaccinated for COVID-19 will be voluntary while underscoring that  vaccine to be introduced in India will be on par with global standards and as effective as  vaccines developed in or countries.

"Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary. However, it is advisable to receive complete schedule of vaccine for protecting oneself against this disease and also to limit spread of this disease to close contacts including family members, friends, relatives and co-workers," ministry said in response to a question on if it is mandatory to take shot.

This response comes after several doubts were asked to ministry in connection with iculation of vaccine.  ministry listed a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday night and responded to questions like if taking a vaccine was mandatory, how long does it take for antibodies to develop and if it was necessary for a COVID recovered person to take vaccine.

Allaying fear of common citizens, Health Ministry stated that only when regulatory bodies clear vaccines based on ir safety and efficacy, will y be launched in country. 

Health Ministry earlier had stated that se vaccines will be administered in multiple doses (two to three doses) and each dose requires a gap of three to four weeks. However, he reiterated that COVID-19 rms and safety protocols need to be rigorously adhered to even after iculation of vaccine once available.

Centre has stated that health care workers, who have been at forefront of battle against COVID-19, will be vaccinated first, followed by or frontline workers. "refore, healthcare and frontline workers are among first group of people to be vaccinated,"' ministry said.

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Procedure for vaccination

ministry has also stated that a citizen will have to get registered for getting vaccinated after which information about details of vaccination will be shared to person wanting to get vaccinated. beneficiary will receive an SMS on his/her registered mobile number on due date, place and time of vaccination.

ID such as driving license, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) job card, PAN Card, passbooks issued by Bank/Post Office, Passport, Pension Document, service identity card issued to employees by Central/ State Govt./ Public Limited Companies and voter ID may be produced at time of registration.

Ministry has also said that a QR code-based certificate will also be sent to registered mobile number of beneficiary after iculation of all doses of vaccine. It is also advised to rest for at least half an hour at vaccination centre after iculation. In case beneficiary feels any discomfort or uneasiness, n he may inform  nearest health authorities. 

Ministry has categorically stated that COVID-19 guidelines have to be adhered to strictly even after iculation of COVID-19 vaccine.

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Six vaccines to be introduced in India

Six vaccines are in fray to be introduced in India to counter threat of COVID-19 - Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR, second one being  ZyCov-D developed by Zydus Cadila, third one by is an mRNA vaccine developed by Genva.  fourth one is developed by Oxford vaccine in collaboration with Serum Institute of India. Moreover, Sputnik V vaccine is also being manufactured by Dr Reddy's Lab, Hyderabad, in collaboration with Russia's Gamaleya National Centre which will be introduced in India. sixth one manufactured by Biological E Ltd, Hyderabad, in collaboration with MIT, USA is also undergoing clinical trials in India.

(With PTI inputs)