SunstarTV Bureau: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) puts up an advertisement asking volunteers to enroll for Phase-3 clinical trial of indigenously developed Covid vaccine, COVAXIN. The last date of enrolment is December 31, 2020.
While India is getting ready to fight back COVID-19, the phase III clinical trial for indigenously-developed Bharat Biotech’s vaccine candidate COVAXIN is witnessing a shortage of volunteer participation, with a high refusal rate 70 per cent to 80 per cent, said by the medical officials.
“When the clinical trial began, we wanted 100 volunteers and received over 4500 applications. In phase II, we wanted 50 and received 4000 applications. In phase III, now when wanted 1500-2000 participants, we could only recruit about 200 participants as of now. It is happening because people are thinking why to volunteer when a vaccine is coming for everyone soon,” told Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor of Community Medicine at AIIMS.
Earlier, the doctor had told that authorities were hoping to finish the phase III clinical trial by the end of December.
Meanwhile, the Centre has prepared a detailed guideline for mass COVID vaccination. The Union Health Ministry has also directed the states to prepare for adverse events post COVID-19 vaccination as can’t be ruled out.
Till the time there is no vaccine, people have to strictly follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour by wearing a face mask, washing or sanitising hands and maintaining social distancing.
