NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, NOV 25
The phase-3 clinical trials of Bharat Biotech”s COVID-19 vaccine candidate will begin at Sola civil hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Wednesday.
He told reporters the hospital received 500 doses of the vaccine candidate, Covaxin, for the trial.
Patel, who also holds the Health portfolio, said doctors at the hospital will be trained for administering the shots by experts from the Union Health Ministry, who, he said will arrive in Ahmedabad soon.
“The trial of the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech is being conducted in different states. Ahmedabad’s Sola civil hospital has been selected for the (phase-3) trials in Gujarat. Healthy youths will be considered as volunteers for the trials,” Patel said, adding that the selection of healthy and fit individuals is underway.
The vaccine (candidate) will be tested on volunteering citizens living in urban and rural areas, healthy and elderly volunteers, and health workers.
The deputy CM said about 500 (doses) of the vaccine candidate have been kept in cold storage at the hospital.
Covaxin is being developed by the Hyderabad-based firm in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Meanwhile, Patel said volunteers will be given two doses of the potential vaccine per month.
“They will be monitored continuously after each dose. Their vitals and other (physiological) changes will be constantly monitored. The benefits and side effects, if any, will be recorded under the supervision of medical experts,” he said.
BJP MP tests COVID-19 positive after attending conference
BJP MP from Kheda Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, Devusinh Chauhan, tested coronavirus positive on Wednesday afternoon, soon after attending the inaugural ceremony of Speakers” Conference at the Tent City near Kevadia in Narmada district.
મારુ સ્વાસ્થ સારું છે, મને કોરોના ના સામાન્ય લક્ષણો જણાતા સાવચેતીના ભાગરૂપે હું આઈસોલેટ થયેલ છું. મારા સંપર્ક માં આવેલા તમામ ને વિનંતી કરું કે આપ પણ કોરોના રિપોર્ટ કરાવી સ્વાસ્થ્યની કાળજી રાખશો……
— Devusinh Chauhan (मोदी का परिवार) (@devusinh) November 25, 2020
The two-day 80th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind.
“My coronavirus report came positive. I urge people who came into my contact to get themselves tested and take care of their health,” Chauhan tweeted at 3.49 pm.
He visited the rapid antigen testing booth created at the tent city for the guests, after the inaugural event in the afternoon, officials said.
He along with several other MPs and other dignitaries from Gujarat were in Kevadia for the inaugural session of the conference.
“Chauhan came to the booth after attending the function. He was found coronavirus positive after the rapid antigen test,” Chief District Health Officer Dr Kiran Patel said.
