Today, India has launched its first COVID-19 vaccination drive to fight against the deadly coronavirus outbreak. In the first round of the vaccination drive, 3 crore people will be immunized using the two COVID-19 vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield. The priorities will be given to groups with a high risk of coronavirus infection including health workers, frontline workers, defence forces, police, and sanitation workers. 

The central government has provided necessary guidelines to all the states and the union territories for the COVID-19 vaccination procedure. The government has also mentioned that certain people should not get the COVID-19 vaccine.  

  1. Children below 18 years of age are not allowed to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 
  2. Pregnant and lactating women should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine jab. 
  3. People with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines, drugs or food items are advised to avoid COVID-19 vaccination.  
  4. People who are currently infected with coronavirus should not be administered the COVID-19 vaccine. 
  5. COVID-19 patients who received other treatments such as anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma should not get the COVID-19 vaccine. 
  6. People who are suffering from any illness and hospitalised patients should not get COVID-19 vaccines. 

The experts have urged caution on giving COVID-19 vaccines to persons with any bleeding or coagulation disorder such as clotting factor deficiency, coagulopathy or platelet disorder. 

People who had COVID-19 infection in the past but now COVID-19 negative can be administered with COVID-19 vaccine.