The clarification came shortly after Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who took the vaccine shot in the third phase of vaccine trials, tested positive for Covid-19.
India’s first indigenous vaccine for the highly infectious coronavirus, Covaxin, has been designed to be effective if a person takes two doses, Bharat Biotech clarified today. The Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm, in a statement, stressed that the “efficacy can be determined 14 days after the second dose”. The clarification came shortly after Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who took the vaccine shot in the third phase of vaccine trials, tested positive for Covid-19.
“Covaxin clinical trials are based on a 2-dose schedule, given 28 days apart. The vaccine efficacy will be determined 14 days post the 2nd dose,” the Hyderabad firm said in an official statement. One of the three Covid vaccine candidates being tested in India, Covaxin – in its third phase of trials- will be administered to “26,000 subjects across 25 sites”, the statement read.
“The phase 3 trials are double-blinded and randomised, where 50 per cent of subjects will receive the vaccine and 50 per cent of subjects will receive placebo,” the firm said.
Earlier administered a single trial dose of the vaccine, Anil Vij tweeted today: “I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona.”
I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) December 5, 2020
Recently, reports came out that adverse event was reported in Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin trials. This occurred during the Phase I trials in August. However, the company did not promptly admit to the public. A volunteer, with no comorbidities, developed viral pneumonitis after he was given a dose of the Covaxin shot. However, Balram Bhargava, DG-ICMR said that the adverse impact did not demand stoppage of the trials.
The number of corona patients in the country crossed 9.6 million. In the last 5 days, there has been a decrease in the active case. On Friday, 36,711 fresh cases were reported in the country, while 42,359 people recovered from the virus. At the same time, 510 people died in the last 24 hours taking the total toll to 1,39,700.
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