Aditya Vikram Singh/ Prayagraj:
A private hospital in Prayagraj has announced to launch vaccination of Prayagraj denizens with the Russian Covid vaccine Sputnik-V, the third vaccine after India’s own two vaccines the Covaxin and the Covishield.
The Russian vaccine Sputnik-V is expected to be launched very soon. But the people have to dole out vaccination cost from their pocket as the vaccine has been priced at Rs 1,145 per doze. Two dozes will be priced at Rs 2.290, private hospital officials informed the media persons, because they said the government had put the price on this vaccine.
Announcing the launch here, Dr Ritu Gupta, MD, paediatrician, Priti Nursing & Maternity Hospital (PNMH), Prayagraj, said the endeavour to drive Sputnik V in this region was a heartfelt project, aimed at work in progress to allay vaccines hesitancy amongst the denizens of the northern region of the country, as this will be the only centre or maybe just second or third centre across the entire northern region of India.
Prominent among those present during the vaccine launch announcement, included the Chief Medical Officer, Prayagraj Dr Prabhakar Rai, Dr Teerathlal, District Immunization Officer, Dr Rishi Sahai, District Nodal Covid-19 officer, Dr Rahul Singh, Additional CMO, Prayagraj, and Dr Anuj Gupta, MS, orthopedic Surgeon of Priti Nursing & Maternity Hospital, besides Dr Kanika, MD, paediatrician at Priti Nursing and Maternity Hospital.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anuj Gupta said Covid-19 pandemic has no boundaries and agony is not barred by region, religion, profession and status. Innumerable health care workers, their families and people all around the globe got affected by it, so did Dr Gupta and their family.
Having lived the devastating consequences of Covid-19, the team become determined to undertake every possible step within the capacity to save lives, the response stemmed from humane principle-”Saving the life in jeopardy is Dharma” was the preposition that guided the team to get the Sputnik-V vaccines for the denizens of the region.
Talking about the vaccine, Dr Ritu Gupta elaborated that Sputnik-V vaccine is a human adenovirus viral vector-vaccine for covid 19, developed by Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia. PNMH has procured the vaccine from Dr Reddy’s Laboratory, Hyderabad, which is its distributor in India, Dr Ritu Gupta said adding that as per interim analysis from the trials published in *Lancet* , in February, 2021, the efficacy of the Sputnik-V vaccines is 91.6 per cent against covid infection and 100 per cent against severe illnesses and hospitalization.
The PNMH joined hands with the Government of India initiatives to encourage vaccination, she said adding that massive vaccination offers great promise for halting the global Covid -19 pandemic.
Vaccinating maximum people is necessary so as to acquire herd immunity which is only possible if more than 70 per cent people of the country get vaccinated. Being part of the initiative, PNMH has a licensed Covid Vaccination Centre named after Prof A K Gupta. As part of the vaccination drive, PNMH vaccinated over thousands people with the then available Covishield vaccine. Now, people will have choice and options amongst the three vaccines, the covaxin, covishield and Sputnik-V, she pointed out.
Dr Ritu Gupta mentioned that the horrendous situation faced by Prayagraj people in the months of April and May during the second wave of Covid-19, leaves a lesson that false bravado and sense of denial could be suicidal, and it’s equivalent to touching a naked electric wire to check if electricity runs through it or not, hence, staying firm with standard operating procedures and protocols, even after vaccination is the key to safe health.
With view to ensure good health practice, the PNMH abides by all the norms and practice set by Government of India. In order to avoid inadvertent exposure to the infection, the PCVC at nursing home has separate entry and exit points for the patients, and the cost of the vaccine will be same as prescribed by Government of India, Dr Ritu said.
Vaccination slot could be booked online on Co-Win portal and also walk in facility will be available. Time allotted for the vaccination is 10.00 am to 05.00 pm. Sputnik V vaccine is a double doze vaccine, with the interval of 21-days between first and second doze.
The Russia’s Ulema Council of Fatwa declared the Sputnik V vaccine as halal, with this approval, almost 20 Muslim countries have approved Sputnik-V in their countries including UAE, Iraq and Syria, she added.
With passing time and advancement of studies, vaccines are also evolving with lesser side effects, Dr Gupta said adding that PNMH is committed to serve its people which is why we responded early to get the vaccine in the city as early response not only saves lives but also prevent RNA virus from undertaking further mutation.
She also mentioned that after successful roll out of Sputnik-V, the PNMH also planned to get the Zydus Cadilla, a DNA-based and better evolved vaccine for children below 18-years in coming months.
