New Delhi (NVI): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) today issued a set of guidelines for the aircrew flying after receiving COVID-19 vaccine following the nationwide vaccination drive in India.
DGCA in the guidelines for ‘Temporary Unfitness for Flying’ said that aircrew will be monitored for 30 minutes at the COVID-19 vaccination centre for any anaphylactic or idiosyncratic reaction.
“Aircrew will be ‘Medically Unfit for Flying’ for 48 hours after vaccination. If there are no symptoms after 48 hours, the aircrew is fit to resume `unrestricted’ flying duties,” the guidelines said.
Moreover, in cases the pilots experiences any symptoms after 48 hours, the aviation regulator said that he or she will be reviewed by treating physician/company doctor or AMA.
“Such pilots can be declared fit for flying duties provided they are asymptomatic without any medications and a ‘medical cure certificate’ to this effect to be obtained,” it added.
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) March 9, 2021
DGCA further said that if the medical unfitness period post COVID-19 vaccination is more than 14 days, then a special medical examination will be required to ascertain fitness for flying.
Meanwhile, more than 2.3 crore (2,30,08,733) vaccine doses have been administered through 4,05,517 sessions in India so far, the Health Ministry data shows.
During the first phase of the drive, only the health care and frontline workers were given the vaccine, but now in the next phase people over 60 years of age are being vaccinated across the country.
-RJV
