Of 200 vax volunteers, only 3 tested positive

CHANDIGARH: Out of the 200 volunteers for Covishield trials at the PGI, three turned positive for the virus. As patients were either on the first dose or were given second dose and turned positive immediately, they are now being monitored. However, no adverse event has been reported till date.


For efficacy of the

vaccines

, at least a year’s study is required on those, who were vaccinated with the required doses. No one knows about how long the

antibodies

will last,” said Prof Madhu Gupta, principal investigator of the Covishield trial at the PGI. She said, “The three Covid-19 positive patients have not been excluded from the trials and are being observed.”

Although Covishield’s trials after phase 2/3 for safety and efficacy were published from the data collected from Brazil, South Africa and the UK, Indian studies have yet to be published. Sources informed that the data will be public by March end.

Also, the antibody tests have been done in the participants of the trial. The antibody test reports of half of the participants reveal that they have developed antibodies against Covid-19 and the reports of others are awaited, said sources.

The

Oxford

and

AstraZeneca

manufactured vaccine against Covid-19 had undergone phase II and phase III trials at the PGI. Throughout the country, out of the 1,600 volunteers, 1,200 have been a part of the safety trials, while others have been tested for immunogeneticity. Both these groups had been given second dose of the vaccine after a gap of 28 days.

A total of 2,000 Covishield vaccines have been allotted for the health workers in the city. On the first day of the vaccination drive, 374 received the shot. It is expected that by the end of this month, all the health workers will be covered.

There were three, who had nausea and dizziness on Saturday, while a few developed some pain on Sunday. But no adverse event was reported. The vaccination drive will be held four days in a week i.e. on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.