MBBS student dies after first dose of COVID vaccine; Medical College suspends classes for now

After the medico had come positive for COVID-19 and died, the College administration has suspended all its MBBS, MS, and MD classes from Wednesday onwards.

The late medico had tested positive for the coronavirus after almost 22 days of getting the first jab of Covaxin. After developing symptoms he had gone back home and breathed his last at his hometown in Begusarai.

As per experts, it takes the body almost 14 days after the administration of the second dose of the vaccine. Various media reports have claimed that as the late medico used to stay in the boys' hostel, nine other students who had come in his contact have also been tested positive for the virus.

ANI reports a 2016-batch student of Patna's Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH) displayed symptoms of the coronavirus infection late last month after which he gave samples for the Covid-19 test. He reached his hometown and went into self-isolation.

NMCH principal, Dr. Shiv Kumari Prasad told ANI that the student passed away. He said, "His Covid test was positive but he did not wait to take his test report and took leave to go home to Begusari after he caught the viral infection. We are checking the cause of his death."

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As per the latest media report by India Today, the medico had been complaining of cough and cold on February 24. Following that, he had got his RT-PCR test done. By the time on Sunday, his test reports had come he had gone back to his hometown. He had died there on Monday night.

One of his friends who had gone to Begusarai to visit the medico had told Deccan Herald, "the CT scan of student's chest indicated that the lungs were functioning at 50-75 percent efficiency. He bled through nose and mouth before he passed away."

Dr. VK Jha, the Begusarai Civil Surgeon, told the daily, "The medico was admitted to a private nursing home in Begusarai on February 27 evening after his condition deteriorated. He passed away on March 1 evening. We are not sure whether he had any pre-existing disease as post-mortem examination of Covid-19 patients is not done."

Dr Ajay, Nodal Officer, Nalanda Medical College Hospital has told India Today, "Shubhendu was a final-year student and after conducting the Covid-19 test, he went home. The government has reiterated that until the second dose of a vaccine is taken, the first dose does not become effective. Shubhendu had taken only the first dose of the vaccine. So far, nine more students have tested positive for Covid-19."

Meanwhile, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey had expressed grief at the death news of the medico. He said, "Death of a doctor is saddening and the government is putting in all efforts to contain spread of the virus. Some more doctors have reportedly tested positive after his death."

He further told India Today, "Death of any doctor or medical worker due to Covid-19 is painful for us. I was very sad when I received the news of his death. Other students have also tested positive. The health department is keeping an eye on the matter."

"We have asked around 700 other medicos to undergo RT-PCR test," the Minister added to Deccan Herald.

A recent report by the Times of India has added that the Principal Secretary of Health Pratyaya Amrit visited the college and directed hospital superintendent Binod Kumar Singh to ensure that everyone on the campus goes through RT-PCR tests. He also asked the concerned officials to conduct a rapid antigen test at Aryabhatta Knowledge University where several students would write their first professional MBBS exam from Thursday.

NMCH deputy superintendent, Dr. Satish Kumar, has informed the daily that classes would resume after all the students underwent the RT-PCR test. "There are nearly 500 students, including girls, in our hostels," he added to TOI.

Dr. Binod told the daily that the samples of students, who had tested positive for COVID-19, were being sent to the Institute of Life Sciences in Bhubaneswar to confirm the virus strain. Government is quite serious about the new mutant strain of the virus. The Principal Health Secretary has added that a further plan of action would be announced later, adds the daily.

The administration has been trying to trace all the possible connections who had come in contact with the late medico. The Principal Health Secretary has directed to test all the family members of the deceased for the virus. He had also directed the Begusarai administration to declare the locality of Shubhendu as a micro-containment zone and carry out tests of all in the neighborhood.

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