Dentist vouches for safety of vaccination, says minor effects are immune responses

Pune: City-based dentist Ankit Khanna vouched for the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine and its immunity-lending capacity as the nationwide vaccination of health care workers is set to begin on January 16.
Khanna was among 1,600 trial participants, who had enrolled for Phase II (safety) and III (immunogenicity) human trials of the vaccine in India. “Post-vaccination, minor symptoms are very normal.In fact, they reflect the body’s drive-in mounting the immune response. The Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective,” he said.
The health care professional had volunteered to participate in the human trials of the vaccine at a designated trial site in Pune. “I underwent pre-trial screening on August 29. I got the first dose of the vaccine on August 31 and the second dose on September 29,” Khanna said.
After the first inoculation, Khanna noticed a slight increase in body temperature. The fever lasted for about 24 hours. “I also had body-ache, headache, and general malaise, which improved over 24 hours. All symptoms completely subsided after 48 hours. Soreness at the site of injection lasted for four days. The trial site researchers recorded all symptoms,” Khanna said.
After 65 days, Khanna got his antibodies checked. “The test found a high amount of antibodies in my blood. This gave me the confidence to pursue my clinical work and serve patients without fear for them, my family, and myself,” he said.
Despite receiving the vaccine, Khanna did not stop following Covid-19-appropriate behaviour during the trial period and continues to observe them even after full vaccination.