Concerns over Covaxin as some cite ‘lack of data’

Doctors from a prominent Delhi hospital and Tamil Nadu raised concerns over being administered the homegrown vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech as the nationwide vaccination programme kicked off on Saturday.

The Bharat Biotech vaccine, called Covaxin, is currently undergoing late-stage clinical trials, which are crucial to determining the efficacy of the shot. India’s drug regulator gave emergency authorisation to the vaccine — along with the Oxford-astrazeneca vaccine manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India — on January 3.

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi on Saturday requested the medical superintendent of the facility to administer SII’S coronavirus vaccine, Covishield, amid apprehensions about Covaxin.

The resident doctors were “a bit apprehensive” about Covaxin and may not participate in the immunisation drive in large numbers, the association said in a letter.

“We have come to know that the COVID-19 vaccination drive is being conducted by the hospital today. Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech is being preferred in our hospital over Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute.

“The residents are a bit apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in case of Covaxin and might not participate in huge numbers thus defeating the purpose of vaccination. We request you to vaccinate us with Covishield, which has completed all stages of trial before its roll-out,” the letter stated.

The controversy escalated during the day as reports said those receiving Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin were asked to sign consent forms before being inocu