PTI (26 August 2020) – The Phase II clinical trial of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, being manufactured by the city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), began at a medical college and hospital here on Wednesday.
Two male volunteers were administered the vaccine at Bharti Vidyapeeth’s Medical College and Hospital, a senior office-bearer of the hospital said.The trial began around 1 pm, he said.
“Doctors at the hospital administered the first shot of the ‘Covishield’ vaccine to a 32-year-old man after his reports of COVID-19 and antibodies tests came out negative,” Medical Director of Bharti Vidyapeeth’s Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr Sanjay Lalwani, said.
Another 48-year-old male volunteer was also given the vaccine, he added.While the 32 year-old volunteer works for a private company, the other one is associated with the healthcare sector, he said.
“Before administering the vaccine, doctors checked their temperature, blood pressure and heart beats,” he said.Five volunteers had enrolled themselves for the trial after the doses were received from the SII on Tuesday, he added.