Haryana Health Min Anil Vij tests Covid positive days after getting single dose of Covaxin

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who participated in a coronavirus vaccine trial a few days ago, has tested positive for the Covid-19 infection.

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij has tested positive for coronavirus days after participating in the trial of coronavirus vaccine Covaxin. On November 20, Vij had participated in a trial of coronavirus vaccine Covaxin.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Vij said that those who have come in close contact with him are advised to get themselves tested for coronavirus.

In a statement later in the day, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, "Covaxin is a two-dose anti-coronavirus vaccine and Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who had volunteered for its phase-three trial, was given only the first dose."

Anil Vij further informed that he is admitted to Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt. He had participated in the trial of Covaxin at the same hospital on November 20.

Earlier, Vij had offered to be the first volunteer in the phase three trials for the potential coronavirus vaccine Covaxin. This is India's first Phase 3 efficacy study for a coronavirus vaccine, and the largest Phase 3 efficacy trial ever conducted.

Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech has reacted to the development as well, as reported by ANI.

"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 has been designed to be efficacious when subjects receive both doses," news agency ANI quoted Bharat Biotech as saying.

"The phase-3 trials are double-blinded and randomized, where 50% of subjects (participants in the trial) receive vaccine & 50% of subjects receive placebo," said Bharat Biotech as reported by ANI.

Covaxin, a potential vaccine against the novel coronavirus, is being developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech along with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The vaccine maker had earlier announced that it successfully completed an interim analysis of Phase 1 and 2 trials and is working on Phase 3 trials.