Minister part of vaccine trial gets COVID; needs 2 doses to work: Co

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij has tested positive for coronavirus. He was administered the trial dose of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, last month. The minister made the announcement of his testing positive in a tweet on Saturday. He has been hospitalised.

“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 (sic),” tweeted the minister who is also in charge of the state’s home department.

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

The 67-year-old is a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a legislator from Ambala Cantt assembly constituency. After he offered to be the first volunteer in the phase-3 trials for Covaxin, he was administered the first dose on November 20 at the Civil Hospital at Ambala Cantt.

Bharat Biotech has issued a clarification saying the vaccine needs two doses to be effective. “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, in its third phase of trials,  will be administered to 26,000 subjects across 25 sites,” it said in a statement on Saturday.

“The phase 3 trials are double blinded and randomised, where 50 per cent of subjects will receive vaccine and 50 per cent of subjects will receive placebo,” the Hyderabad-based vaccine maker stated.

Covaxin is being developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Related news | COVID vaccine developed completely in India may be ready by February

Earlier, a three-member delegation of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), the BJP’s coalition partner in Haryana, had met Vij, who is also the state home minister, on Friday and sought the withdrawal of cases registered in the state against farmers participating in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march against the Centre’s farm laws. The delegation was led by JJP’s state unit chief Nishan Singh. Senior party leader Digvijay Singh Chautala was also a part of it.

Yoga guru Ramdev too had met the health minister on Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies)