With the third phase trial of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin beginning in Haryana on Thursday, state Health Minister Anil Vij was administered a trial dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in a hospital in the state’s Ambala Cantonment. With this, he became the first minister to volunteer during trials.
Vij said that it is a matter of pride for India that the indigenous company has had two successful trials of the vaccine earlier and its third and final trials have started from Friday. The India-based company is preparing a Covid-19 vaccine and is testing it in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The minister urged the people that there is nothing to fear. As many people as possible should come forward and become part of it. He underwent the trial to set an example for the people so that there is no doubt or fear in their minds. The third and final phase of Covaxin will be tested on 25,800 people.
Vij said that 1,000 volunteers will be registered for Covid-19 vaccine testing in Haryana. He said that a person of any age can become a part of this campaign as a volunteer. If anyone wants to be a part of the Covid vaccine trial, they can contact the PGI Rohtak through helpline no. 9416447071 or mail to snoh.covid19@gmail com.
He said that a team of doctors will periodically examine the volunteers on which the vaccine would be tested. Vij added that after the successful testing of the third and final phase, and if the government allows it, at the beginning of 2021 itself people can be vaccinated against Covid-19 so that they don’t have to live in fear.
Earlier, a team of doctors examined his health and under the supervision of doctors at PGI, Rohtak the vaccine was administered at the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment. Dr O.P. Kalra, vice-chancellor, PGI Rohtak and Dr Dhruv Chaudhary, Haryana nodal officer were present with their team during the vaccine trial.
The state, meanwhile, has again shut down schools till 30 November as cases surge amid students. Over 300 school students were found positive of the virus till Thursday evening across various districts of Haryana. Majority of the students who were tested positive were asymptomatic, according to health officials. Only few were reported to have mild symptoms of cold, cough and fever. A total of 2,09,000 cases are reported in the state with 1,88,000 recovered patients and 2,113 deaths.