Bengaluru receives 20,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin for healthcare workers

Photo Credits: Reuters

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin’s one thousand vials have been received by state vaccine store, at Anand Rao Circle on Wednesday in Bengaluru with each vial of the vaccine comprising of 20 doses.

The air carrier, SpiceJet flight SG 7555 had left from Hyderabad at 08:55 am on Wednesday and arrived at 10.23 am in Bengaluru with three boxes having 90 kg of Covaxin. The news was confirmed by an official in the immunisation wing of the Karnataka health Department by Deccan Herald about the 20,000 doses of vaccine arrived in Bengaluru.

The 20,000 doses received by Bengaluru are a part of the total 40,000 vaccines alloted to Karnataka, stated Dr C N Manjunatha, the nodal officer for Covid-19 testing of Karnataka and a member of Technical Advisory Committee.

The healthcare workers will be the first priority who will be administered the vaccine. Dr Manjunatha revealed about the consent of the participants to be taken as the vaccine last stage of clinical trial is ongoing but will be administered according to the approval given by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). He said, “If no consent is taken, it will be like doing a trial under the shadow of the vaccination programme.”

The healthcare workers would not be given the choice between Covishield and Covaxin said the union health secretary.

According to an expert, Bharat Biotech has to report the adverse effects of Covaxin to DCGI in every two weeks and also the healthcare workers who are administered the vaccine will be on constant review. He said, “If they have to be monitored, they should be informed which vaccine they are getting.” He added. “Choice and consent are different.”

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