Over 60 lakh vaccinated for COVID-19 so far, 23 dead amongst the lot

Over 60 lakh people have been vaccinated for coronavirus, including over 2 lakh people who received the shot on Monday, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

As per data shared by the ministry, the cumulative number of COVID-19 healthcare and frontline workers who have been vaccinated against coronavirus has reached 60,35,660 through 1,24,744 sessions held so far. Of these 54,12,270 are healthcare workers and the remaining 6,23,390 are frontline workers.

On the other hand, the number of deaths of vaccine beneficiaries has reached 23 after one person was reported dead in the last 24 hours. "Total 23 deaths have been recorded till date. In the last 24 hours, one death has been reported -- a 29-year-old female, a resident of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh," the ministry informed.

"These comprise 0.0004 per cent of the total vaccinations. Of the 23, nine persons died in hospitals while 14 deaths were recorded outside the hospitals," it added.

However, the ministry has clarified that none of these deaths have been causally linked to COVID-19 vaccination. It also informed that 29 people have been hospitalised after receiving vaccine doses so far, which is 0.0005 per cent of the total vaccinations.

"Of the 29 cases of hospitalisation, 19 were discharged after treatment, while nine persons died. In the last 24 hours, one person suffering from B/L facial palsy has been hospitalised in Thiruvananthapuram, and his condition is stable," officials said. They maintained that no case of serious/severe adverse event following immunisation/death is attributable to vaccination till date.

On Monday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that there has been no connection has been established between the deaths occurred after vaccination and the vaccines utilised under government's vaccination programme.

"There have been a few deaths reported of those who have received vaccines. However, it has not been established that their cause of death is a vaccine. I would like to appeal to everyone that the vaccines are safe," he said while interacting with reporters during an event.