Inauguration of the start of trials at the ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases.
Calcutta:
The Governor of West Bengal has volunteered for the third phase of the trial of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin. Opening the start of trials at the ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) in Kolkata today, Governor Jagdeep Dhankar said he was happy to receive the vaccine if he was deemed eligible.
“As the first servant of the state, I will be shot in the chest for the good of the people. And I have no doubt about it,” said Dhankar, 69.
NICED Director Dr. Shanta Dutta said the Governor has expressed interest and wishes to receive the vaccine today. “But that was not possible. He has comorbid conditions. We will contact his doctor and if we consider him suitable to receive the vaccine, we will set a date.”
The age limit to volunteer in the tests is 18 to 80 years old.
West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim, 61, also volunteered and took an injection of the Bharat Biotech-ICMR-NIV vaccine today. He was the second volunteer in Calcutta to take the photo.
Firhad Hakim took an injection of the Bharat Biotech-ICMR-NIV vaccine today.
“The NICED scientists said that there can be side effects, that there are risks. But I said go ahead. If I have an adverse reaction, it will help scientists correct the problems and quickly come up with the perfect vaccine for the people of India,” he said. Hakim.
Trials are underway at 24 centers across the country with 25,800 volunteers.
NICED is looking for around 1,000 volunteers and in the last two weeks received 350 applications. The institute will consider applicants from across the state, but has expressed a preference for people who live within 15 km of campus. “It will help us monitor the volunteers much better,” Dr. Dutta said.
All volunteers will be onboard in three months and given two doses of Covaxin 28 days apart. They will remain under observation for at least 30 minutes and, in the event of adverse reactions, they will be admitted to a hospital, the state Beleghata ID or a private hospital of their choice. All invoices for the treatment will be borne by Bharat Biotech.
The volunteers will be monitored for a year and if someone wants to give up half, they can, officials said.
In phase one and two, the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine will be tested, while phase three will test the “protective efficacy” of the vaccine. The results will be tabulated for one year, although the government may decide to publish an interim report.
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