Special COVID-19 Vaccination Drive for Diabetic, Cancer & Chronic Illness Patient, NHM Assam Issues SOP

GUWAHATI: The Government of Assam is undertaking vaccination of all eligible categories of the population against COVID as per Government of India guidelines: and

Whereas there was a provision for priority vaccination of people with co-morbidities in the past; and it is observed that the Incidence of mortality and secondary Infections like Mucormycosis (black fungus), Candidiasis, etc are more common In people with co-morbidities Infected with COVID;

Therefore, the Government of Assam has decided that all cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic liver disease, HIV, Tuberculosis, and such chronic illnesses requiring long-term treatment or steroid therapy shall be preferentially administered vaccination against COVlD.

Accordingly, "Special Vaccination Days for Chronic Illness Patients" shall be conducted on all Saturdays and Sundays at all eves where preference will be given for such patients.

Further, Medical College Hospitals and State Cancer Institute, Guwahati shall undertake vaccination of all cancer patients reporting at the OPD.

All Health Institutions In the State Including Central Government and Private Health Institutions are directed to give priority to the vaccination of such patients. 

Earlier as per a survey carried out by the Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) to understand the impact of COVID-19 disease among the general public, it was observed that hypertension & diabetes are found to be the most common comorbidities among Covid-19 patients in Assam's capital city here.

The age of participants ranged from 21 years to 70 years. A total of 268 people participated in the online survey. Of them, the vast majority (193/72%) were from Guwahati, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, etc. And, 59 (22%) and 16 (6%) of respondents were from smaller towns and villages, respectively.

The most common co-morbidity among survey participants was hypertension (38/14.4%) followed by diabetes (26/9.8%). It was seen that 76 (28.4%) survey participants were infected with COVID-19, and of them, 43 (56.5%) were infected in the year 2020 and 30 (39.4%) in 2021 (second wave). Strikingly, 3 (3.9%) of respondents were infected in both 2020 and 2021.

Among the respondents who were infected with COVID-19, fever alone or in combination with body ache or cough (51/67.1%) was the most common presenting symptom followed by loss of taste or smell in 47 (61.8%) respondents. Of all the COVD-19 patients, only one (1.3%) person required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 11 (14.4%) required care in a hospital for their symptoms.

Also Read: Blood pressure & diabetes most common comorbidities among Covid-19 patients in Assam: BBCI

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