Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, July 10

The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) has administered BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) vaccination to 175 attendants of COVID-19 patients to see whether or not it proves to be effective in fighting the virus.

In this clinical trial, close contacts of patients, doctors, nurses, ward boys and sanitary workers have been administered the vaccine. The trial was kicked off on May 1.

All 175 persons have been kept under observation for 180 days. During this period, the effect of the vaccine will be studied in phases.

A mobile phone application has also been developed to receive feedback about their health at regular intervals. The participants have been asked to inform doctors if they fall sick or if there is a swelling at the spot where the vaccine was administered. Mobile numbers of doctors have also been shared with the participants.

“Blood samples of all participants will be taken for the antibody test after the completion of the observation period. The latest level of antibody of participants will be compared to the level of antibody recorded before administering the BCG vaccine. The vaccine will be considered effective if the level of antibody is higher before administering the vaccine,” said Dr Ramesh Verma, a co-investigator in the clinical trial and professor in the Department of Community Medicine at the PGIMS.

Dr Dhruv Choudhry, investigator of the research and head of the pulmonary and critical care medicine at the PGIMS, said the BCG vaccine enhanced the immunity and was used against tuberculosis, but it also possesses the ability to induce potent protection against other infectious diseases.

“The clinical trial aims at exploring whether or not the participants get infected from COVID-19. If yes, we want to know the intensity of severity. If no, it will prove that the vaccine is effective,” said Choudhary, who is also the state coordinator for the COVID Control Programme.