Published 14:28 IST, December 5th 2020
'Covaxin efficacy after both doses': Bharat Biotech on Anil Vij testing positive mid-trial
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Saturday tested positive for the Coronavirus days after he was administered the trial dosage of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin
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Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Saturday tested positive for the Coronavirus days after he was administered the trial dosage of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine. Vij was the first person in Haryana to receive the trial dose of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Few hours after he tested positive, Bharat Biotech has responded to the development.
Bharat Biotech's response on Anil Vij testing positive
The vaccine manufacturer has stated that Covaxin clinical trials include the subject being administered two doses given 28 days apart. In addition, they have further stated that the vaccine's efficacy can only be determined 14 days after the subjects are given the second dose. Bharat Biotech has also remarked that Covaxin has been developed to be effective only after both doses are provided to the subject. Moreover, they have also stated that 50 per cent of the subjects who are a part of the phase-3 trial receive the COVID-19 vaccine while rest of them receive a placebo.
Covaxin clinical trials are based on a 2-dose schedule, given 28 days apart. The vaccine efficacy will be determined 14 days post the 2nd dose. Covaxin has been designed to be efficacious when subjects receive both doses: Bharat Biotech https://t.co/eT5YybkoLl
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2020
The phase-3 trials are double-blinded and randomized, where 50% of subjects (participants in the trial) receive vaccine & 50% of subjects receive placebo: Bharat Biotech pic.twitter.com/Ask7G9w1Pm
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2020
Anil Vij tests positive
Days after Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij was administered the trial dose of COVID vaccine, he has tested positive for the infection on Saturday. Vij was the first person in the state to be administered Bharat Biotech's Covaxin trial dose on November 20. Taking to Twitter, Anil Vij on Saturday announced that he had tested positive for Coronavirus. As of now, Vij has been admitted to a civil hospital in Ambala Cantt. In addition, he has also requested people in close contact with him to get themselves tested.
I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona.
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) December 5, 2020
Anil Vij receives COVID vaccine
The Health Minister was administered the first trial dose of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin at Civil Hospital in Ambala Cantt as a part of Phase 3 trial of the vaccine. The dosage was given under expert supervision by a team of doctors from the PGI Rohtak and the Health Department. Vij had volunteered to take the trial dosage of Covaxin. Following his announcement, Vij had also urged people to volunteer for the vaccine's final trials.
#WATCH Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij being administered a trial dose of #Covaxin, at a hospital in Ambala.
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2020
He had offered to be the first volunteer for the third phase trial of Covaxin, which started in the state today. pic.twitter.com/xKuXWLeFAB
"I, myself have stepped forward to take the first dose of the vaccine. I am not afraid of volunteering. In fact, I want more people to come forward so that the trials can be completed as soon as possible and the vaccine can be made available in the market soon." he said.
Bharat Biotech's Covaxin
Covaxin is a COVID-19 vaccine that is being developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Bharat Biotech had successfully completed the first two trials of the vaccine and announced that the final trial would involve 26,000 volunteers across 25 centers in India.
14:28 IST, December 5th 2020