MBBS Student Tests Covid Positive After Second Dose of Covishield
A senior MBBS student from Sion Hospital tested positive for the new coronavirus on Saturday, days after receiving the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Doctors said that even after both doses, it could take several days for immunity to develop.
The 21-year-old received the Covishield vaccine. Last week he received the second dose. He developed mild symptoms of the viral infection and underwent a test that came back positive. He was admitted to Seven Hills Hospital on Saturday night, while several of his shelter mates, who were also vaccinated, are in quarantine.
Dr. Balkrishna Adsul, manager of Seven Hills Hospital, said: “Not everyone who gets vaccinated will develop an immune response within a set period of time.” Dr. Adsul further said that the student had mild symptoms and was stable and that it could take up to 45 days for the immune response against the virus to fully develop once the vaccine is administered. The medical student became infected around the same time he received the second dose, he added.
Dr. Mohan Joshi, dean of Sion Hospital, said they had come across some cases where healthcare workers became infected after vaccination. “That is because they were infected before the body could generate immunity. Even after getting vaccinated, we are advising staff to follow all Covid-19 safety protocols, “he added.
An MBBS student from Sion hospital said several students were in isolation or quarantined. “Our senior exams are coming up. It is not yet clear whether those in isolation or quarantine will be able to come forward for testing later, ”he said.
Dr. Joshi said they have not yet heard from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences whether an exception can be made for those isolated due to Covid-19. “At this point, they will be marked absent on the exam,” he added.
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