Man given third Covid vaccine instead of anti-rabies shot in Jharkhand
Palamu: A 51-year-old man who had visited the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Paton to get an anti-rabies vaccination shot was administered Covid-19 vaccine instead, for the third time accidentally, on Saturday in the district of Palamu.
Later, he was given the correct anti-rabies shot after a proper health check-up which was completed on Monday afternoon, following which his condition seemed to be fine.
Dr. Ameet Azad, the medical officer in charge of the community centre at Paton, said that the man, identified as Raju Singh had received both the required Covid doses, but was given the third dose instead of an anti-rabies vaccine. The person has now received three doses of Covishield vaccination.
According to a recent media report in the Times of India, sources expressed that Singh used the mobile number of another person, Mithilesh Singh of Golna village in order to take the OPD ticket. He had booked both his Covid vaccination shots using another mobile number, with sources claiming it to be the reason why his vaccination history was not visible in the portal.
According to a media report in The Pioneer, the person accidentally stood in the line which was meant for Covid vaccination instead and was administered with the third shot of vaccine. However, his OPD ticket showed the prime complaint to be a dog bite, but he did not produce the ticket at the vaccination counter nor did the officials ask him any questions related to the vaccination.
District (Palamu) civil surgeon Anil Kumar stated, "I have asked the medical officer-in-charge of the community health centre at Paton to probe how and why it had happened." The civil surgeon added that the OPD paper of Singh showed his primary complaint to be a dog bite.
However, claiming that the personal vaccination data of Singh was not visible in the centralised portal, the surgeon added, "Had his jab history reflected on the computer, this man would have not have been given the third shot."
The civil surgeon said that Singh is fine, with no visible adverse consequences. He said, "I have directed Dr Azad to keep a close tab on Singh in case he develops any problems."
Meanwhile, the district health department is also monitoring the situation related to any effects due to the additional Covid vaccination shot taken by the person.
Sources told the daily, the main task with the CHC was to administer the person with an anti-rabies shot as it had been more than four days since he was bitten by a canine. He was, however, reportedly fit and feeling fine, said his friend, Mithilesh Singh.
The civil surgeon Dr. Kumar added that a team was formed under District Malaria Officer Dr. MP Singh, who completed their investigation on Monday afternoon. Singh was given an anti-rabies vaccine shot. His condition seemed to be fine after both the probe and the administration of the anti-rabies shot, reports Live Hindustan
Additionally, the Block Medical In-charge of Patan, has been given the duty to monitor Singh's health in the morning and evening for another week, and conduct the required tests on a regular basis.
