On the morning of March 18, provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention injected AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 for 84 health and army staff at the frontline of the fight against the pandemic. This vaccination site was fully equipped with medical equipment to handle cases of anaphylaxis from the vaccine. The province’s mobile emergency team was on duty regularly to assist the injection site in case of need.
No abnormal reactions after injection
On the morning of March 18, 84 soldiers and medical staff had no adverse reactions after being injected with Covid-19 vaccine at provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control. It is known that all the recipients were screened before vaccination and required to report their health status, background diseases and recent vaccinations so that health workers can make appropriate and safe indications. Especially, the recipients were fully consulted about the effects and possible adverse events, and unusual signs of health in order to inform them to medical staff.
A frontline cadre is injected with AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
During the vaccination session, the recipients complied with regulations under the guidance of the center’s health workers. The center’s medical staff were also trained for injection procedure. Accordingly, they took a sufficient amount of vaccine for each dose of 0.5 ml, stored at a temperature of 2-80 degrees Celsius and did not shake it before making injection.
Nguyen Hoang Manh, who directly participated in the isolation area of provincial Military School said that: “After being injected with Covid-19 vaccine, my health is still normal. After 30 minutes, I was given a certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 by a health officer. Before the injection, I was a little nervous. But, screening staff clearly explained information regarding the vaccination as well as the vaccination process so I was very confident.
In the pre-injection screening area, the injection was temporarily delayed for some cases, due to having the history of allergy and hypertension. Along with ensuring vaccination safety, the center also strictly complied with measures against Covid-19 infection.
Strictly preparing all safe conditions
Doctor Nguyen Thanh Danh, Director of provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention said: “We prepared for this vaccination from the previous days with safety on top. This is a new kind of vaccine, so the center planned to carefully prepare all steps for the vaccination process, from reception, consultation, screening, injection, post-injection monitoring to preparation of all means, emergency tools in case of anaphylaxis after injection. Currently, the supply of Covid-19 vaccine is limited, so it is given priority for frontline forces in the fight against the pandemic. Later, when its supply is large, we will organize vaccination regularly and widely in accordance with the national program on immunization.
Monitoring and checking the steps to ensure safety for the province’s Covid-19 vaccination, Dr. Nguyen Hong Chuong, Director of provincial Department of Health said: “On the first day of organizing injection with AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid -19, provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention strictly followed the vaccination procedure under the guidance of the Ministry of Health with adequate equipment, machinery and manpower…There were safe boxes at the injection table and post-injection monitoring room to actively handle unexpected events”.
Also according to him, AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 is a new vaccine that has just been put into use, so its data on efficiency and safety in the world are still being monitored and upgraded regularly by the World Health Organization, the Health Ministries of countries and manufacturers. For Binh Duong, the implementation of Covid-19 vaccination had early preparation, surely ensuring adequate information for the people, ensuring the highest safety. Also like any medicine or vaccine, Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccine can cause a number of undesirable reactions after injection, ranging from mild fever, swelling, pain at injected site, headache…to anaphylaxis. The province closely monitored and implemented all steps under the injection process at the vaccination site. Previously, health workers at all levels of the province were instructed by leading experts to monitor adverse events after vaccination and handle cases of anaphylaxis from the vaccine. The recipients should provide health workers with all information about post-injection health in order to opportunely monitor reactions after vaccination, helping the local health sector assess characteristics of the vaccine for positive and necessary adjustments.
*Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Giang Nhung, Head of provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Communication Department: Compared to many other vaccines that I used to receive previously, AstraZeneca vaccine made me painless. I was completely normal after being injected with it. Today, I am very excited to be given the injection by my colleague. With the vaccination, I feel more secure in Covid-19 prevention and control in the coming time. ''
*Dr. Nguyen Hong Chuong, Director of provincial Department of Health: The recipients need to have preparation to ensure vaccination safety. After being injected with the vaccine, they need to stay at vaccination sites for consultation and monitoring by health worker for at least 30 minutes. They also need to immediately notify health workers if any unusual symptoms like restlessness, vomiting, rash, swelling…occur. After returning home, they need to monitor their own health for at least 2 days. If detecting abnormal symptoms, they must immediately notify medical staff for prompt treatment and advice. With risk signs, including fever higher than 90 degrees Celsius, difficulty in lowering body temperature, or fever lasting more than 24 hours, restlessness, shortness of breath..., they need to immediately move to medical facilities for treatment…
Reported by Kim Ha-Translated by K.T
