2nd & 3rd phase of Covishield trials reports no major adverse effects

The second and third phase of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, titled as ‘Covishield’ in India, is reportedly progressing at brisk pace with no major adverse side-effects.

It was found that very less number of people developed rise in the body temperature (fever) after injecting the dose. However the scientists claim it as a mild reaction of its aftermath and nothing to be petrified about. The trial is running smoothly, some have received their second doses also,” said one of the principle investigators who is involved in the trials.

In the ongoing seven-month-long trial phase, the vaccine’s safety and efficacy is being determined among 1,600 participants across 17 trial sites in India.

On 9 September, the vaccine trials were halted after one of the participants in the UK developed an “unexplained illness”, suspected to be an adverse effect of the vaccine. On 10 September, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) sent SII a show cause notice, following which trials were stopped in India too.

After an abrupt stop occurred in the trials due to adverse effects earlier, it resumed in the UK on 12 September after getting a green signal from the nation’s regulator Medicines Health Regulatory Authority, and consequently it recommenced in India at Serum Institute of India within the same week.

Two weeks later, investigators from all three sites said the vaccine appears to be “safe” and has shown no adverse effects so far.