Health Ministry said a total of 553 sessions of Covid-19 vaccination was conducted in six states in which 17,072 beneficiaries were vaccinated on the second day of the launch of the world's largest Covid-19 vaccination drive. These states are Andhra Pradesh in which 308 sessions were conducted yesterday, 165 sessions in Tamil Nadu, 64 in Karnataka, 14 in Arunachal Pradesh, and one each session in Karala and Manipur.

Addressing the media in New Delhi, Additional Health Secretary, Dr Manohar Agnani said, with this taking all the two days, a total of 2,24,301 beneficiaries have been vaccinated so far. Out of which 2,07,229 beneficiaries were vaccinated on Saturday which is the highest day one vaccination number in the world and it is higher than UK, US and France, he added.

Dr Agnani also informed that in these two days, a total of 447 Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFIs) have been reported out of which only three required hospitalizations. He said, one person has been discharged from Northern Railway Hospital Delhi within 24 hours, another person was discharged from AIIMS, Delhi and one is under observation in AIIMS, Rishikesh and is fine.

Dr Agnani said, most of the AEFIs reported so far are minor like Fever, Headache and Nausea. He said, an AEFI is any unexpected medical occurrence which follows immunization which may not be related to the vaccine or vaccination process. He said protocols are in place for reporting, immediate case management at vaccination session site, transportation and hospitalization and further care of such cases. He said protocols are also in place for systematic investigation and causality assessment of serious AEFIs. Mr Agnani said a meeting was also held with all States and Union Territories yesterday for review of progress, identification of bottle-necks and to plan corrective actions as the vaccination program moves ahead.