Nearly 3,600 healthcare workers received the COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on January 18, a further dip in the figures compared to that on the opening day of the immunisation drive, with sources saying just eight medical staff got the jabs at AIIMS.

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Under the nationwide mega vaccination drive launched on January 16, a total of 4,319 (53 per cent) health workers against a target of 8,117 were administered the vaccines at 81 centres across the city. The sharp fall comes after one severe and 50 minor cases were reported, following the vaccination drive on January 16. "On day two of the drive in Delhi, 3,598 people have been administered corona vaccine. AEFI was reported in 26 persons," a senior official of Delhi health department said.

According to data shared by officials later, the target of the day in Delhi was 8,136, thus only 44 per cent of that could be reached. Various reasons are being attributed to the low turnout, including some technical issues and fears related to adverse events. However, the government has maintained that no case of serious/severe AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) is attributable to vaccination till date.

One "severe" and 51 "minor" cases of AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) were reported among health workers who were administered the coronavirus vaccine in Delhi on Saturday, according to official figures. An All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) security guard had developed an allergic reaction after receiving the vaccine. He was kept under observation of doctors, an official had said on January 16.

According to the Union health ministry, 3,111 vaccinations were done in Delhi on January 18 till 5.00 pm. According to sources, eight vaccinations were done at AIIMS, 20 in Safdarjung Hospital and 69 healthcare workers were vaccinated at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital.

Around 45 beneficiaries had turned up at the Safdarjung Hospital but then many of them had comorbidities or are on medication which are contraindicative for vaccination and that is why only 20 could be vaccinated. Messages were sent to 100 healthcare workers, a source said.

As far as eight vaccinations at AIIMS are concerned, an official source said, it was related to multiple factors, including apprehensions of adverse events and late notifications through the Co-WIN app, due to which many people got the information late and were not able to come.

"Also, those who had refused on January 16 were again included in the list and they did not turn up again on January 18. Around 20 people had turned up at AIIMS, of which some had fever, while others had history of allergies, and only eight beneficiaries received the shots," the source said.

At the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital, only 12 healthcare workers showed up, compared to 32 on day one, as per data shared by official. No one showed AEFI at this site, a senior official said. At Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, the number for January 18 stood at 20, nearly half of the figures on day one -- 45, officials said.

As per district-wise data shared by officials, all 26 cases of AEFI were reported at sites where Covishield were being administered. Among these, 24 were minor cases, and the rest two severe cases. One of them had to be hospitalised. According to Union heath ministry officials, the person was sent to Max hospital at Patparganj.

The two severe cases of AEFI were reported at sites in East Delhi and South West Delhi, according to data. The district-wise distribution of total AEFI cases were -- Central Delhi (4), East Delhi (3), New Delhi (1), North Delhi (2), North East Delhi (3), North West Delhi (3), Shahdara (1), South Delhi (3), South East Delhi (0), South West Delhi (3) and West Delhi (3), according to the data.

The Delhi Health Minister on January 16 had said some people did not turn up for coronavirus vaccination at the last moment, adding that the government cannot ask anyone to compulsorily take the jab. He also said that the number of vaccination centres in Delhi will be increased from 81 to 175 soon. He noted that a similar trend was observed across the country, with around 50 per cent of those registered getting the jabs on the first day.

The vaccine is to be administered in Delhi on four scheduled days of the week -- January 18th, 19th, 21st and 23rd. It will not be given on January 24 and two others days of the week when other regular vaccination work will be carried out. So, January 18 was the first working day of the week since the mega exercise was inaugurated by the Prime Minister across the country.

Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield is being administered at 75 centres while Bharat Biotech-made Covaxin doses given at the remaining six facilities. The city government has received a total of 2.74 lakh doses of the vaccine so far from the Centre, which would be sufficient to cater to 1.2 lakh healthcare workers, the Chief Minister had earlier said. The Delhi government will take measures like counselling and formal phone calls in the coming days to raise the percentage of healthcare workers turning up for being administered COVID-19 vaccines, officials said on January 17.