Confusion in Maharashtra over adverse event and indemnity

MUMBAI: There is confusion within the Maharashtra authorities about adverse event management and indemnity even as the state waits for vaccine supply to start a mass vaccination programme against Covid-19. Subhash Salunkhe, technical advisor to the state government on Covid-19, said there is a lack of clarity from the Centre on the management of any adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) and the issue of indemnity.

State health secretary Pradeep Vyas, though, said revised AEFI guidelines have been issued. Maharashtra government has proposed to vaccinate 100 beneficiaries per day in each of its 4,200 vaccination sites including medical colleges, government hospitals and district health centres. Private hospitals, too, maybe used based on logistics, network connectivity, and the number of people to be immunised.

Salunkhe said several queries sent to the central government regarding the management of adverse events and indemnity burden in case of any complaints or suits remained unanswered days before the actual vaccine rollout. “I have spoken to the state health directorate and they are unaware of any communication or guideline in writing from the ministry of health on the above issues,” he told ET.


There also has to be clarity on the indemnity issue if such an event occurs, Salunkhe said. “We have been asking the Centre to design a proper communication strategy on this so that there is no adverse impact on the vaccination drive,” he said. Health secretary Vyas, however, said, “Revised AEFI guidelines to strengthen AEFI surveillance in view of Covid-19 situation have been issued.” There is one state-level AEFI committee and three sub-committees in Mumbai, Nagpur and Aurangabad, besides an AEFI committee in each of the districts and corporations in the state, he told ET.