BackIndia's first Covid-19 vaccine: Covaxin Phase-3 trial begins at AIIMS, key updates
AIIMS' Dr Srivastava was the first one to receive the shotThe dose will be given to around 15,000 volunteers at the medical institute over the next few days
PremiumIndia-made coronavirus vaccine Covaxin began its phase-three human clinical trial at AIIMS in New Delhi on Thursday with Dr M V Padma Srivastava, the chief of Neurosciences Centre at the premier institute, and three other volunteers receiving the first dose.
AIIMS' Dr Srivastava was the first one to receive the shot, which would be given to around 15,000 volunteers at the medical institute over the next few days, reports news agency PTI.
The first dose of 0.5 ml intramuscular injection was given to four volunteers. They were under observation for two hours and will be monitored for the next few days, the report said.
Dr Srivastava said, "Covaxin is the first indigenously-developed anti-coronavirus vaccine and on top of that, my institute is participating in the trial. I am honoured to be the first volunteer to receive the shot. I am happy to be a part of such a great cause. I am perfectly fine and I'm working."
Coronavirus vaccine trail
As part of the trial application, a dose of 0.5 ml would be given on day 0 and on day 28, the report added.
The phase-three randomised double-blind placebo-controlled multi-centre trial would cover around 28,500 subjects aged 18 years and above. It would be conducted in around 25 sites across 10 states. The trial has already started at a few sites.
The Bharat Biotech has been given the permission for conducting phase-3 human clinical trials of the Covaxin from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
The safety and immunogenicity data of the phase one and two trials were submitted to the central drug regulator. The Hyderabad-based firm, while applying for phase-three trial, stated that the vaccine was well-tolerated in all dose groups and no serious adverse events have been reported.
The most common adverse event was pain at the injection site, which resolved transiently.
Covaxin shots reach Ahmedabad hospital
Earlier on Wednesday, a consignment of Covaxin, one of the coronavirus vaccine candidates, reached Sola civil hospital in Gujarat for the phase-III clinical trials.
The Sola civil hospital in Ahmedabad is one among the 130 centres across India where the third phase of clinical trials of Covaxin would be conducted, H G Koshia, Commissioner, Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) said.
'Covaxin' is being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Besides, Covaxin, four other vaccines are under different phases of clinical trial in India with the Serum Institute of India conducting phase-three trial of the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine while the indigenously developed vaccine by Zydus Cadila has completed phase-two clinical trial in the country.
Dr Reddy's Laboratories will soon start combined phase two and and three clinical trials of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India. Also, Biological E. Ltd has started early phase 1 and 2 human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, officials had said last week.
Meanwhile, India recorded 44,489 fresh Covid-19 infections in a span of 24 hours and 524 deaths due to the infection, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.
The overall cases in India now stand at 92,66,706, including 86,79,138 discharges and 4,52,344 active cases. The cumulative toll of the country has reached 1,35,223.
With agency inputs
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