Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 14: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said people with allergies can take Oxford COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ manufactured within the country.
“Anyone with a history of allergy to food or medicine can have the vaccine,” said DAK President Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan in a statement.
However, he said, people allergic to any of the ingredients present in the vaccine should not take the vaccine.
“Covishield contains weakened adenovirus encoding COVID-19 spike protein. The other components in the vaccine are L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, polysorbate 80, ethanol, sucrose, sodium chloride, disodium edetate dihydrate and water for injection”, he said.
DAK President said the vaccine can be considered for use in pregnancy when the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
“Pregnant women can take the vaccine if the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is high or if the woman has underlying condition heightening her risk of serious complications,” he said.
Dr Nisar said the Oxford vaccine is in injectable form and the route of administration is intramuscular. It is to be given into the muscle at the top of the upper arm (deltoid muscle).
“The vaccine has been approved for use in people 18 years or older and consists of two separate doses of 0.5 ml each. The second dose should be given between 4 to 6 weeks after the first dose,” he said.
“Vaccine is the single best defence against COVID-19 that would save lives and prevent disease transmission,” he said.
He said that there is a need to communicate to people about the importance of the vaccine and dispel miscommunication, conspiracies and anti-vaccination distortions.
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