Over 90 healthworkers received the Covishield vaccine at the Calcutta Municipal Corporation’s health clinic in Chetla, Ward number 82, on Saturday. Soma Laha, 38, the medical officer of the clinic was the first among them to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. She narrated her experience to Metro.

A slight prick of a needle inserting through the skin — that’s all what I felt while receiving the shot of Covishield on Saturday. It is a similar feeling to receiving a tetanus vaccine. I did not feel much pain or any discomfort while I was administered the vaccine.

I received the dose around 11.30am and did not experience any adverse reaction. There is no pain around the site where the injection was pushed.

Being the in-charge of the Ward 82 health clinic, which was chosen as one of the Covid-19 vaccination sites in Calcutta, I took the first vaccine here on Saturday.

I did so to alleviate any fear in the mind of any healthcare worker about the safety of the vaccine. I thought that other healthcare workers in our clinic would think it was safe to take the vaccine if they see me taking it.

I suffered from Covid-19 in November. I had moderate symptoms, including severe cough. I would suggest everyone take the vaccine and there is nothing to fear.

More than 90 people took the vaccine from the Ward 82 health clinic. They included doctors, nurses, honourary health workers and accredited social health activists (ASHA). None of them reported any adverse event till evening.

No one reported even common after effects like lump at the injection site, pain or redness.

I did not have any fear in my mind regarding receiving the vaccine. I have read about the trials that the Covishield vaccine has undergone and its results. The Covishield vaccine has completed third phase and there has no report of any major adverse event.

So, when I learnt on Friday that I will be among the select few who will receive the vaccine on Saturday, I instantly made up my mind to take the vaccine.

No vaccine can give protection to all people, but they protect a large majority. Similarly, there are very good chances that taking the Covishield vaccine would trigger immune responses in a person, which can reduce chances of contracting Covid-19. I would motivate all my doctor friends and healthcare workers to take the vaccine.