COVID-19 Vaccines: Who Should & Who Shouldn’t Take Vaccines

The COVID-19 disease, which gripped the world during early 2020 after the rapid spread of coronavirus, has had detrimental effects on the world till now. Not only it has resulted in the untimely death of millions of people around the globe but also it ruined the economy of many countries. In India, the coronavirus has caused the death of more than 1.6 lakhs people till now.

However, things are expected to improve after the vaccines for covid-19 were introduced by different countries around the world. In India, the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech released the covid-19 vaccines known as ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’ respectively. In January 2021, the Health Ministry of India introduced its plan to begin a vaccination drive to vaccinate the Indian population against this disease.

However, not everyone or anyone is supposed to take the vaccine right away. In the first phase of the vaccination drive, the healthcare workers and frontline warriors against the covid-19 disease received the vaccine. Whereas, during the second phase, people above the age of 60, and those above the age of 45 with co-morbidities are being vaccinated.

Both SII and Bharat Biotech as well as the Government of India have listed the risks and side-effects associated with the covid vaccines. Read on to know who should and who should not take the covid vaccine in India.

Who can take the vaccine?

During the second phase of the vaccination drive, the Government of India has allowed the people above the age of 60 and those between 45 to 59 with co-morbidities to take the vaccine. It means that anyone falling in this age range (barring a few exceptions which we have mentioned later) can take the covid-19 vaccine in India.

Those with co-morbidities are required to submit a certificate of co-morbidity, duly signed by a registered medical practitioner, for taking the vaccine. This certificate can either be uploaded at Co-Win 2.0 by the beneficiary itself while registering for the vaccine or a hard copy can be submitted at any covid vaccination center.

Here is the full list of co-morbidities:

• Heart failure during the past year
• Post cardiac transplant or Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
• Valvular Heart Disease
• Congenital heart disease with severe PAH
• Coronary Artery Disease with past Hypertension or diabetes
• Angina with past Hypertension or diabetes
• CT/MRI documented stroke with past hypertension or diabetes
• Diabetes or Hypertension for more than 10 years
• Kidney/Liver/Hematopoietic stem cell transplant
• End-stage kidney disease on Haemodialysis or CAPD
• Current and prolonged use of oral corticosteroids or immunosuppressant medications
• Decompensated cirrhosis
• Severe respiratory disease requiring hospitalization in past two years
• Lymphoma or Leukaemia or Myeloma
• Cancer or cancer therapy
• Sickle cell disease or Bone marrow failure or Aplastic anemia or major Thalassemia
• HIV or AIDS infection
• Persons with disabilities

Who shouldn’t take the vaccine?

Separate circulars released by the SII and Bharat Biotech mentions who should not take the covid vaccines developed by them. Bharat Biotech has advised pregnant and breastfeeding women, along with people having high fever or bleeding disorders, to not take the Covaxin developed by them.

On the other hand, the Serum Institute of India, which manufactured the Covishield vaccine, has advised people who have severely allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine to not take the shot. Additionally, no person below the age of 18 should take any of the covid-19 vaccine shot.

Below is the full list of people who should avoid these vaccine shots:

Who should avoid Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin?

• Those who have a very weak immunity or those who are on medicines that affect immunity
• Those who have a history of allergies
• Those who are having high fever
• Those who have thin blood or bleeding disorders
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• Those who have taken any other covid vaccine
• Those who are suffering with a serious health issue and are not deemed fit for the vaccine by the supervising healthcare officer

Who should avoid SII’s Covishield?

• Those who are severely allergic to any of the ingredients of Covishield. Ingredients for the Covishield include L-Histidine, L-Histidine Hydrochloride Monohydrate, Disodium Edetate Dihydrate, and water.
• Those who have experienced allergic reactions during the first shot of Covishield should avoid the second shot.
• Those who are deemed unfit for the vaccine by the supervising healthcare officer
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women

Apart from the conditions mentioned above, you should also avoid taking the covid vaccine if you are presently showing the symptoms of coronavirus. Those who are currently covid-19 positive can take the vaccine only 4-8 weeks after their recovery.

What are the side-effects of the vaccine?

Along with the risks, both Bharat Biotech and SII have also mentioned the side-effects of the covid vaccines manufactured by them. These include mild fever for a number of days, swelling, redness, pain, stiffness, itching, and rashes in the are where the injection was administered.

Other common side-effects of these vaccines include weakness, body ache, headache, fatigue, malaise, nausea, pyrexia, chills, cough, and vomiting.

To Conclude

It’s important to know that vaccines are given to develop immunity or anti-bodies against the diseases. Hence, no vaccine is 100 percent safe and effective. Moreover, since covid-19 vaccines are developed over a very short period of time, its after-effects are still not known completely.

Hence, before taking the vaccination, you should be prepared mentally as well as physically to tackle its side-effects. Also, you should consult a known medical practitioner to know your fitness for taking the vaccine shot.

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