Want to speed up vaccine trial: Covaxin volunteer Anil Vij

Anil Vij was kept under observation for some time after being administered the vaccine. (Source: Health minister's office

Haryana health minister Anil Vij, who was Friday administered a trial dose of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, attended office two hours after he was vaccinated.

After the vaccination, Vij told mediapersons: “It is a matter of pride for every Indian that Bharat Biotech is coming up with an indigenous vaccine for Covid-19. I volunteered to become one of the participants for the third phase trial so that people shed their fears and come forward to volunteer. That will expedite the entire process of developing the vaccine. “

Vij is 67-year-old and a diabetic. He is the first volunteer in the state for the third phase trial of the potential coronavirus vaccine.

Ambala: Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij volunteers in the trials for potential coronavirus vaccine Covaxin, at Civil Hospital in Ambala district, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. (PTI)

The Minister said there were various difficulties that people were facing owing to the pandemic. “They are unable to attend family functions or go out to meet their loved ones, watch movies in cinema halls. Children cannot go to schools and colleges, buses are running empty. People want to get rid of this pandemic as early as possible.”

Elaborating further on his decision to participate in a vaccine trial: Vij said: “I have full faith in the capability of our doctors. The first two trials that took place were for restricted categories. But the third phase of trial is open to even high-risk category people. I did not fear for even a minute. I got the vaccination and came to the office and resumed work like any other day.”

Vij said he was kept under observation for an hour and that his health will be monitored for a year and blood tests will be conducted every month. “I have no problem with that. Doctors can do any tests on me, whenever they want. We have created a facility in Rohtak PGIMS and people can go there and volunteer to get the vaccine’s trial dose. I want the trials to be completed expeditiously”.

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