According to reports, five hospital sites across Maharashtra have completed the recruitment of 1,500 participants in India’s Phase-III human trials for the COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik.
Moreover, St George’s Hospital is the only site conducting clinical trials for the Russian vaccine in Mumbai. However, across India, 21 hospital sites are taking part in the trial.
In addition, St George’s recruited 18 participants in the Phase-II trial that ended in December. In Phase III, it has recruited 144 participants by January 30, of which 108 have been given the vaccine whereas 36 a placebo. Medical Superintendent Dr Akash Khobragade said they will be receiving a phased stock of 44 doses to conduct the trial.
Last year, back in the month of August, Sputnik V was given approval by the Russian health ministry and has been used in multiple nations for mass inoculations. Sputnik is based on a modified version of adenovirus, a common cold virus. The vector stripped of its disease-causing genes and modified to carry genetic instructions for making the coronavirus spike protein. This prompts the cells to cause an immune response which eventually protects against the SARS-CoV-2.
Meanwhile, earlier on January 27, Maharashtra improved its COVID-19 vaccination numbers by 15 per cent as 41,470 people took the vaccination for the coronavirus on the seventh day of the first phase of the state-wide vaccination drive meant for people working in the health sector.
According to reports, the state could, however, only meet 77 per cent of the intended daily target of 53,900 healthcare workers. “We added many sites, variation was bound to be there,” informed the National Health Mission chief N Ramaswami.
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