Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 21: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir today formed a UT level committee and also district level committees for management of adverse events of the COVID-19 vaccine, if any.
According to the Government order, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department (H&MED) J&K will be the chairman of the UT level committee while as Director Family Welfare MCH & Immunization J&K will act as vice chairman and Inspector General of Police Jammu/Kashmir, Mission Director NHM J&K, Director Information J&K and Drug Controller J&K will be members of the committee. State Immunization Officer J&K will be convener/member secretary of the committee.
HoD Pediatrics, HoD Medicine, HoD Pharmacology, HoD Microbiology, HoD Pathology, HoD Forensic Medicine, HoD Anesthesia and HoD SPM in GMC Jammu/Srinagar/Anantnag/Baramulla/SKIMS Soura/JVC Bemina/Kathua/Rajouri/Doda shall also be members of the UT level committee.
Moreover, UT Surveillance Officer Jammu/Kashmir, UT Epidemiologist Jammu/Kashmir, Health Officer Municipal Corporation Jammu/Srinagar, Assistant Director Family Welfare Jammu/Kashmir, members from UNDP J&K/WHO/UNICEF, Audio Visual Officer Family Welfare, Cold Chain Officer, members of Indian Association Physicians/Indian Medical Association (UT Chapter) and representatives of electronic media/print media will also be members of the committee.
The district level committees will be comprised of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) as chairman, District Immunization Officer as convener/member secretary and Senior Superintendent of Police, Deputy CMO, District Epidemiologist, Pediatrician of District Hospital, General Physician of District Hospital, Cardiologist of District Hospital, Neurologist of District Hospital, Pathologist of District Hospital, Child Development Project Officer, representatives of electronic media/print media and representatives of UNDP/WHO/UNICEF (if available) as members.
The UT level committee will review Case Reporting Forms (CRF), Preliminary Case Investigation Forms (PCIF) and Final Case Investigation Forms (FCIF) for causality assessments, besides reviewing the data base of AEFI cases and looking for districts not reporting AEFI cases for a long time.
The committee has been mandated to conduct field visits and inspections of vaccination sites, cold chain stores, interviewing AEFI cases/relatives, treating doctors/staff, vaccinators, members of District AEFI Committee, if required. It will provide technical guidance on policy and implementation of UT AEFI Surveillance programme and review AEFI programme guidelines/SoPs and establish systems to ensure reporting of quality data.
It will provide support for strengthening AEFI surveillance in the UT through handholding and facilitating training and workshops as and when required, and conduct periodic evaluation of AEFI surveillance in the UT. It will also suggest processes for greater integration of private sector in the AEFI programme, including reporting investigation and response.
The committee has also been mandated to strengthen integration with the UT Pharmacovigilance Programme with partners from Pharmacology Department of Medical Colleges. It will ensure meeting of UT level AEFI Committee every quarter/once in every month during COVID-19 vaccination or as and when required.
The district level committees will analyze the CRF and plan for case investigation of the AEFI case as a team, provide appropriate inputs to the drug authority to decide on temporarily suspending use of the implicated batch of vaccine/diluents/syringes and assist investigation of AEFI case with technical inputs and visit field for investigation, if needed.
The committees will append signatures to the CIFs based on the findings of the investigations of the AEFI case, outline the course of action post AEFI, analyze programme information, media reports and other sources of information on serious AEFI and ensure reporting and investigation are of highest strands.
The district level committees have also been tasked to analyze and review the quarterly AWEFI data for any programmatic errors and suggest remedial measures for the same. They will participate in the UT AEFI committee meetings for causality assessment, if required and will monitor and analyze minor AEFI data every quarter.
These committees will monitor timely submission of completed investigation forms (CRF, PCIF, FCIF) along with supporting documents, ensure involvement of private sector in AEFI reporting, communicate and share conclusions and results of the investigation with health workers and the community.
The committees will conduct District AEFI Committee meeting every month or as and when required and submit proceedings of the meeting to the Directorate of Family Welfare & Immunization. These will also support the spokesperson for media communication.
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