Chhattisgarh, [India] : With the launch of state wide COVID Vaccination Drive, the indigenous COVAXIN got gripped into controversies. The vaccine arrived without the completion of Phase 3 trials, hence Health Minister Shri TS Singhdeo raised an objection over it.
The frontline health workers are been vaccinated in Chhattisgarh, with the launch of Covidshield vaccination drive in state since January 2021. In the mid of this drive, another indigenous vaccine named Covaxin arrived in state. Responding over it, Health Minister Shri TS Singh Deo said that the Vaccines are still passing through the trials. Getting people vaccinated without phase 3 trials would be like innocent people are being used for vaccine trials.
He also raised concern over the forms being provided with the dose of vaccine & termed forms as trial material & asked for not getting vaccinated with the COVAXIN Doses in the state.
On the arrival of Covaxin in state he wrote a letter to Union Health Minister Dr. Harshavardhan mentioning that the state has received 37,760 doses of vaccine & since it hasn’t cleared Phase 3 trials hence CG is unable to use them. Also with the nearing expiry date the vaccines may get wasted. He requested Union Health Minister, not to send more vaccines for the state of Chhattisgarh before completion of phase 3 trials.