In a shocking incident, three elderly women of Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, received anti rabies vaccination instead of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 shot.
The incident took place on the 8th of April and it was confirmed by officials on the 9th of April. Briefing about the incident, the three women identified as Saroj (70), Anarkali (72) and Satyavati (62) received the anti rabies shot at Kandla Community Health Centre. They went to the outpatient department (OPD) and took the shot.
The women got to know that they have received an anti rabies shot, after they felt headache and nausea. They even asked if they needed to submit their Aadhaar Card copy, following which the pharmacist said it is not needed for a dog bite vaccine. Later, they even consulted a private doctor, who confirmed that they have received an anti rabies shot, not the Coronavirus vaccine.
After the incident was reported, the District Magistrate (DM) of Shamli Jasjit Kaur immediately took action and suspended the pharmacist in charge at the centre. In addition, the DM issued a warning to the facility’s medical superintendent.
Jasjit Kaur later addressed the media and said, “A probe was ordered following the incident. The report said the three women had gone to the health centre to get the COVID-19 shot. But (However,) instead of going to the COVID-19 vaccination centre on the first floor, they reached the general OPD. The pharmacist on duty had left for some essential work and had assigned his work of administering the anti-rabies vaccine to a private person, who is a pharmacist of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra. The person injected the three women with the anti-rabies vaccine without checking any papers.” She added, “Based on the probe report, the CMO [Chief Medical Officer] has been instructed to suspend the pharmacist and the hospital’s medical superintendent has been warned. The service of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra employee has been terminated.”
Meanwhile clarifying about the misunderstanding and how the incident ocurred, the CMO Dr. Sanjay Agarwal said, “The anti rabies shot is given every Monday and Thursday at the OPD. The COVID-19 vaccination drive is being conducted at a separate place on the first floor of the health centre. The women had gone to the OPD and asked for the vaccine.”
Speaking about the condition of the women, the CMO Dr. Sanjay Agarwal confirmed no adverse effect of the anti rabies shot. He even said, the statement of the women regarding the same was recorded in front of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM.) In addition, the CMO is conducting a probe into the matter and assured to take strict action if anyone else is also found guilty related to the incident.
This is the first such kind of incident reported in Shamli district, where the COVID-19 vaccination drive started from the 16th of January.
