The hospital has experience in vaccine trials against typhus and Japanese encephalitis. (Figurative)
Gorakhpur:
The locally developed human clinical trial of Covaxin, a possible coronavirus vaccine, began in a hospital, officials said Friday.
The trial began Thursday night at Rana Hospital and the Trauma Center, which is among the 12 institutes selected for clinical trials of the vaccine, authorities said.
“The trials started under the supervision of physician Dr. Ajit Pratap Singh and gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Sona Ghosh and the vaccine has been administered to 9 volunteers so far,” said the hospital’s Administrative Director, Venketesh Chaturvedi.
The hospital already has experience testing vaccines against typhus and Japanese encephalitis.
“On Wednesday, we received the first shipment of 34 Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech International and on Friday we received 20 Covaxin developed by the pharmaceutical firm Zydus Cadila and we expect more vaccines from the companies soon,” Chaturvedi said.
“We have started human clinical trials of the Bharat Biotech vaccine and the Zydus Cadila vaccine trial will begin soon,” he added.
Those who received the vaccine have been under observation and all are “absolutely fine,” he said.
“We are looking for more volunteers and if someone who is healthy, passes class 12 and between 18 and 55 years of age wants to volunteer for clinical trials and join COVID-19, he can contact us at the phone numbers: 8303028051 and 6388214084,” he said. Chaturvedi.
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