Preparations on for next phase of clinical trial of’Covaxin’ vaccine

Preparations on for next phase of clinical trial of’Covaxin’ vaccine

Overview

  • Post By : Kumar Jeetendra

  • Source: PTI

  • Date: 31 Aug,2020

Preparations are underway in a hospital here for the commencement of the second stage of human clinical trial of’Covaxin’,” India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, officials said.

“The Phase I of the trial is still continuing as we are planning for the beginning of the Stage II trial soon,” Dr E Venkata Rao, Principal Investigator of the trial at Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, faculty of medical sciences, said.

The blood samples collected by the volunteers that received the vaccine were to determine how effective the vaccine had been in terms of the degree of carcinogens developed, Dr Rao said, adding that there had been’no side effects’ at the first stage trial of the vaccine.

The IMS and SUM Hospital is among the 12 medical centres in the nation selected by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for conducting the individual trial of this vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.

“Two doses of the vaccine were administered to every volunteer once they had been chosen through a screening process conducted within a period of three to seven days before vaccination. The second dose was given on Day 14 and also the blood sample was collected,” Dr Rao said.

Blood samples of the volunteers are also gathered on different days (28, 42, 104, 194 day) for estimating the term of protection then, he added. Dr Rao said there was a lot of enthusiasm among individuals to be part of this next phase of the human trial.

About Author