Vaccine takes 2-3 weeks to take effect, it didn’t fail: Omar Abdullah on testing positive for COVID-19 two days after getting first jab

Srinagar: Reacting to news reports that he tested positive for COVID-19, two days after he received first shot of the vaccine, former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah said that the vaccine takes 2-3 weeks to take effect and only helps to prevent serious illness.

Tweeting a headline, which read, ‘Two days after receiving vaccine, former J&K CM Omar Abdullah tests positive for Covid-19’, Mr Abdullah said this headline makes it seem like the vaccine failed and is exactly the sort of messaging that has people doubting vaccine efficacy.

“This headline makes it seem like the vaccine failed & is exactly the sort of messaging that has people doubting vaccine efficacy. The vaccine takes 2-3 weeks to take effect & also the vaccine does not prevent COVID but helps prevent serious illness,” Mr Abdullah wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

“I am very grateful to everyone reaching out to me here on Twitter to wish me well. I apologise for not replying individually. For the next few days I’m focusing on beating this virus & will be back here after the battle is won,” he added.

Mr Abdullah on Friday said that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He said that he is completely asymptotic and has gone into self-isolation in his residence based on medical advice. The development had come two days after the former chief minister got the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura. 

Meanwhile, Omar’s father and National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 30, weeks after he got first dose of vaccine against the virus at SKIMS in Srinagar. Dr Farooq tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time earlier this week though was discharged from SKIMS on Wednesday following improvement in his health condition. (UNI)