COVID-19: Harayana Minister volunteers to participate in third phase trials of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin

Haryana Cabinet Minister and BJP leader Anil Vij has agreed to volunteer to become the first person to get vaccinated for the third-phase trials of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.

"Trial for third phase of Covaxin a coronavirus vaccine product of Bharat Biotech to start in Haryana on 20th November. I have offered myself as the first volunteer to get vaccinated," Anil Vij tweeted.

Trial for third phase of Covaxin a coronavirus vaccine product of Bhart Biotech to start in Haryana on 20th November. I have offered myself as first volunteer to get vaccinated .

— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) November 18, 2020

Bharat Biotech will launch the third phase trials of Covaxin in Haryana on November 20.

The vaccine maker had applied to the DGCI on October 2 and sought its permission for the Phase 3 trials.

Currently, five vaccine candidates are currently undergoing clinical trials in India. These include vaccines developed by Oxford University – AstraZeneca, Bharat Biotech, Cadila, Biological E – Baylor College of Medicine and Gamaleya Research Institute, Moscow.

The recommendation was given by the panel at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) after assessing the data of phase 1 and 2 clinical trials as well as animal challenge study. 

Meanwhile, final results from Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine trial showed its shot had a 95 per cent success rate and two months of safety data, paving the way for the drugmaker to apply for an emergency US authorization within days, it said on Wednesday.

The vaccine’s efficacy rate, the highest of any candidate in late-stage clinical trials so far, was welcomed by experts who had already said that interim results showing Pfizer’s shot was over 90 per cent effective were very encouraging.

Pfizer said there were 170 cases of COVID-19 in its trial of more than 43,000 volunteers and only eight people with the disease had been given the shot rather than a placebo, meaning the vaccine had a 95 per cet efficacy rate. Of the 10 people who developed severe COVID-19, one had received the vaccine.