After Haryana minister tests +ve, Bharat Biotech says trial based on a 2-dose schedule

Dec. 5: A tweet by Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Saturday morning became a major cause of concern not only for Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech, but for people throughout the globe. Infact, Minister Anil Vij (67) who was a volunteer in the third phase of vaccine trials in his state, tweeted he has tested positive for COVID-19. On November 20, Mr Vij, who is also Haryana’s Health Minister, participated in the third phase trial of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

Bharat Biotech, that is developing the vaccine, said the clinical trials of Covaxin are based on a two-dose schedule, given 28 days apart. The vaccine efficacy will be determined 14 days post the 2nd dose,” the Hyderabad firm said in an official statement. The clarification came soon after Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who was a volunteer in the third phase of vaccine trials in his state, said he has tested positive for COVID-19. Minister Anil Vij has not yet taken the 2nd dose of the trial vaccine. As per the company’s instruction, he was supposed to take the 2nd shot on 18 December (that is 28 days after the 1st dose). But meanwhile, he was tested positive on 5 December.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said: “The antibodies against the infection build up in a human being only after a specific number of days pass after the second dose of the vaccine is taken. This is a two-dose vaccine. The minister in question has taken only one dose of the vaccine.”

Bharat Biotech added that Covaxin is designed to be protective two weeks after the volunteers receive the second dose. The pharma company has added that as per the norm, they have advised all their volunteers to continue following prevention guidelines for COVID-19 set by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.