As the entire world awaits the arrival of a vaccine to neutralise the COVID-19, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre at Kattankulathur has joined a group of medical institutions with a basket of research projects led by its clinical trials of ‘Covaxin’, a ‘promising vaccine candidate’. The project is supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and developed by Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL), Hyderabad in collaboration with National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

SRM Medical College makes it one of the few private universities in the country with a well developed laboratory and researchers. “These have helped catapult it to the league of 12 hospitals now doing these vital clinical trials as part of a national mission,” said professor Lt Col S Ravikumar, Pro Vice Chancellor, Medical and Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has accorded permission for Phase-I and Phase-II clinical trials of Covaxin. Those who have received the vaccine are doing well till date and they would be given one more shot in the next couple of weeks. In a month from now, the results of the Phase-I trials should be available after complete clinical evaluation, coordinated by BBIL.  The Phase-I trial country-wide involved 375 subjects in all as approved by the DCGI. 

By the next week, “We hope to begin the Phase-II trials in the age group of 12-65 years,” said Dr Melvin George. Hundred volunteers are needed for Phase-II trails. They would be checked for their general health status and screened for COVID-19 before being taken in.