West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, 69, and Minister of State Firhad Hakim, 61, have expressed their willingness to volunteer for the phase 3 trial of Covaxin, the government-backed Covid-19 vaccine. . The trial began in Calcutta on Wednesday.
“I have received calls from many people who want to come forward and volunteer for the test. As the first servant of the state, I am ready … ”Dhankhar said after starting the trial here.
Covaxin is the first Covid-19 vaccine to be developed indigenously in India. It is being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
The Kolkata National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (ICMR-NICED) is one of the institutes selected to carry out the regulatory trials approved by the Central Organization for Medicines Standards Control. The trials will take place at about 25 sites in 10 states. The trial has started in some places.
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A NICED official said Hakim, who also expressed interest in volunteering for the trial, was likely to visit the institute on Wednesday. “The governor has also expressed interest. But we have to consider their age and comorbidities. We are in contact with your doctor. “
About 350 people have applied to become volunteers. NICED is looking for around 1,000 volunteers. Those who live within 10 km of the institute would have a preference, as they need to be closely monitored for a year.
Applicants would be invited one by one for interviews and tests. If they are eligible, they can become a volunteer. The enrollment of 1,000 volunteers for the trial should be completed by February 2021, “said a second official. “It would take a year to analyze whether this has sufficient protective efficacy. There may be an interim analysis after six months. The government will take the last call. “
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