MAPUSA: Bhavesh Zambaulikar and Shiven Naik on Saturday became the first volunteers among nine others to be administered the COVAXIN trial vaccination, at Redkar Hospital, Dhargal, Pernem.
Dr Sagar Redkar, Principal Investigator, said, “We have administered COVID vaccine to first 11 potential volunteers. So far we have screened 50 volunteers and based on eligibility, the vaccines are being given. After the vaccines were given, we observed the patients for two hours and later we discharged them.”
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He said the next dose will be given on August 14.
“We will observe the volunteers during the next seven days. We will communicate with the volunteers telephonically. We have also asked the volunteers to contact us in case they face any health-related problems,” Redkar said.
Dr Dhananjay Lad said that by next week, the first phase of the trials will be completed. “ICMR has asked for 64 volunteers from our site. We have already screened 50. The next batch of volunteers will be screened on Monday. Once the vaccination process completes, we will start the second phase,” Lad said.
“During the second phase, the process will remain the same while only the information concern form will change. By August 15, the post vaccine 14-day data will be ready,” Lad added.
Speaking to the media after being discharged, Zambaulikar said that everything went on smoothly and doctors and attendants were very good. “It was a great feeling to be contributing to the nation to invent a vaccine for COVID-19, which has become a threat to humankind,” he said.
He also stated that initially there were some goose bumps but then everything went great. “They have asked us to call in case of any problem and the next dose will be given on August 14,” he said.
