The human trials of "Covaxin", the India’s first COVID-19 vaccine are geared up to initiate from 10th July in Patna-based All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), amidst the alarmingly growing number of COVID-19 cases in Bihar.

All the mandatory groundwork to start the human-trials have been completed in a very short time frame at the Patna –AIIMS, after getting approval from the ICMR.

Superintendent of AIIMS Dr CM Singh, while speaking to TNIE, said that the human-trails will initiate from 10th July under the constant monitoring of doctors following the ICMR guidelines.

Dr Singh also said that a target has to be set to perform the trials of the vaccine on 100 people. A team of 5 doctors, being experts and experienced in piloting such trials, has been formed and the registration has commenced for the initial trial. He said that the human trial would take at least 6 to 8 months. The final report of performances of the vaccine would be prepared and then sent to the ICMR. Though, the number of humans might increase or decrease depending on the number of people who would volunteer for these trials and are found medically fit. If everything goes well, then the vaccine will soon reach the markets.

The trial of Covaxin will be completed in 3 phases and is being prepared by Bharat Biotech. As per Dr Singh, the trial will be conducted on few people and if it produces anticipated results, then the next rounds of trial will be conducted. A trial will be observed and analyzed together by doctors, experts of vaccine-making companies and scientists of the Central Health Department.

The first phase of trial will take almost 28 days to complete. Medical officials had said earlier that the trial performed on rats and rabbits had produced very encouraging outcomes, thus gaining the ICMRs approval for human trial.

Dr Singh refused to reply on being asked whether this vaccine as per the claim of ICMR will be available in India by 15th August.

Source: The New Indian Express