Seven More Vaccines In Trials, Some In Advanced Phases”: Health Minister

Mumbai: Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan said on Tuesday that Seven more COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in various stages of clinical trials, and more than two dozen in pre-clinical trials.

“About seven more COVID vaccine candidates are in clinical trials. Some of them are in the advanced stages of testing. About two dozen vaccines are in pre-clinical trials,” Vardhan said.

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There are currently two vaccines in India – AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s Covishield and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech – and both are being used for a national vaccination campaign that began in January.

Dr Vardhan laid stress on that point: “Both Indian vaccines are safe and effective. A lot of people still have doubts… I urge them not to believe what is being circulated in ‘WhatsApp University’.”

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“There are only a few rare cases where people contracted COVID-19 after taking vaccines,” he added, explaining that even if someone tested positive after getting the vaccine, the drug “minimalises chances of hospitalization or admission to ICU wards”.

Both vaccines were approved in early January by the DCGI (Drug Controller General of India). As of 8 am this morning over 6.1 crore vaccines had been administered across India – mostly to frontline and healthcare workers, people over 60, and those over 45 with specified illnesses.

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