THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: In a new development at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Director-General Balram Bhargava informed a Parliamentary panel about authorising the use of a vaccine on an emergency basis may be considered. In addition, two indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccines have entered their phase- two clinical trials.
He said that the candidates for the COVID-19 vaccine from Bharat Biotech and Cadila have almost completed their phase- two trials.
While the one developed by Oxford University and handled by Serum Institute of India is entering phase- two trials on the weekend on August 22nd. For this trial, 1,700 COVID patients have been selected from 17 centers from all over the country, said an MP present at the Parliamentary standing committee meeting.
The vaccine can be made available to the masses on an emergency basis if the government deems fit, said Bhargava. Normally a vaccine takes almost six months to complete its fine trial, according to PTI.
On being questioned about the saliva test approved by the FDA in the US, Bhargava replied that they are already considering taking samples for testing from gargled water and will notify with further details, as reported by PTI.
In addition to concerns about the vaccine, ICMR has responded to the panel’s suggestion of evaluating the set of existing guidelines on the management of psychological stress due to COVID. It will release an extensive set of guidelines to alleviate the stress caused by the COVID outbreak.
Chaired by senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma, the parliamentary panel meeting went on for almost four hours touching on different aspects of COVID-19 management and control.
