BHUBANESWAR: Preparations are underway at a hospital here for the start of the second phase of the human clinical trial of ‘Covaxin’, the COVID-19 vaccine indigenous to India, authorities said.
“The Phase I trial is still continuing as we are planning to start the Phase II trial shortly,” said Dr. E Venkata Rao, principal investigator of the trial at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, College of Medical Sciences. . .
The blood samples collected from the volunteers who received the vaccine were to determine how effective the vaccine was in terms of the level of antibodies developed, Dr. Rao said, adding that there were no “ side effects ” in the first phase. of the vaccine trial. .
IMS Hospital and SUM is one of 12 medical centers in the country chosen by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct the human trial of the vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.
“Two doses of the vaccine were administered to each volunteer after they were selected through a selection process conducted over a period of three to seven days prior to vaccination. The first dose was administered on day zero while the sample was being collected. The second dose was administered on day 14 and the blood sample was also taken, “said Dr. Rao.
Blood samples will also be collected from volunteers on different days (28, 42, 104, 194 days) to later estimate the duration of protection, he added.
Dr. Rao said there was a lot of enthusiasm among people to be part of the second phase of the human trial.
Those who want to be part of this trial can contact the center at http://ptctu.soa.ac.in, he said.
“The Phase I trial is still continuing as we are planning to start the Phase II trial shortly,” said Dr. E Venkata Rao, principal investigator of the trial at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, College of Medical Sciences. . .
The blood samples collected from the volunteers who received the vaccine were to determine how effective the vaccine was in terms of the level of antibodies developed, Dr. Rao said, adding that there were no “ side effects ” in the first phase. of the vaccine trial. .
IMS Hospital and SUM is one of 12 medical centers in the country chosen by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct the human trial of the vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.
“Two doses of the vaccine were administered to each volunteer after they were selected through a selection process conducted over a period of three to seven days prior to vaccination. The first dose was administered on day zero while the sample was being collected. The second dose was administered on day 14 and the blood sample was also taken, “said Dr. Rao.
Blood samples will also be collected from volunteers on different days (28, 42, 104, 194 days) to later estimate the duration of protection, he added.
Dr. Rao said there was a lot of enthusiasm among people to be part of the second phase of the human trial.
Those who want to be part of this trial can contact the center at http://ptctu.soa.ac.in, he said.
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