Just hours after Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who wasadministered a dose of Covaxin last month, confirmed he has developedCoronavirus symptoms, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday clarified that Vijtook only the first dose of the two-dose vaccine.
"The antibodies against the infection build up in ahuman being only after a specific number of days pass after the second dose ofthe vaccine is taken. Since, this is a two-dose vaccine. Minister in questionhas taken only one dose of the vaccine," the ministry said in a statement.
In the case of this vaccine, trial volunteers receive twointramuscular injections approximately 28 days apart.
Participants are randomly assigned to receive Covaxin orplacebo. The trial is double-blinded, such that the investigators, theparticipants and the company are not aware of who is assigned to which group.
The statement from the ministry came after the 67-year-oldminister tested positive two weeks after being given a shot of the vaccine,which is being indigenously developed by the Bharat Biotech in collaborationwith the Indian Council of Medical Research, at a hospital in Ambala as part ofthe third phase of the trial.
"I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted inCivil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me areadvised to get themselves tested for corona," Vij tweeted on Saturday.
(Source: IANS)