Kolkata: volunteers who are part of the two covid vaccine clinical trials in the city – starting December 2020 – will ultimately start receiving a vaccine certificate produced by Cowin or shooting vaccines, depending on whether they have received a real shot or placebo during the trial.
The trial of around 1,100 participants was “blinded twice”, which meant them – in accordance with the practice of testing global standards – stored in darkness about whether they had received the actual vaccine or placebo.
Then, those who receive the actual vaccine receive certificates from each institution, in the process of “opening”.
The problem is, while the vaccination certificate produced by Cowin has become mandatory for some outdoor activities, the trial certificate does not.
Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Health Uni has asked the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) to compile unchanged participant data.
But despite the process – to provide a real vaccine or certificate to experimental participants – has begun, some participants feel disappointed.
In the absence of a certificate, something as simple as entering the park is not possible, especially air travel.
“People like me rushed to participate in the trial so that scientists can assess the efficacy and security of vaccines,” said Saptarshi Bhose, a professional credit risk management professional.
“I’m glad I did it.
But why can’t a system be developed for faster certification, because it has become mandatory to enter public places?” Bhose, along with his wife Rai, has participated in the clinical trial phase-III from Covaxin in Niced Kolkata which began in December 2020.
In the process that was not open, Saptarshi was told that he got two original doses of vaccines, but Rai had been given a placebo.
Soumya Sarathi Ganguly, a chemical and molecular biology student at IIT Kharagpur, said it was frustrating because vaccination certificates must enter public places.
“I only have a certificate from the hospital, saying I participated in clinical trials, which people won’t recognize,” he told Toi.
Ganguly participated in Sputnik V trials at Peerless Hospital.
Senior cantanpathi senior clinical trial specialist said he hoped it would soon be found to speed up the process.
“We get a lot of anxious calls from the volunteer of our trial, some of them need to travel abroad.
We must recognize their attitude and ensure that they get a legitimate vaccination certificate in the specified time,” said Clinical Research Director of Peerless Hospital and Subhrojyoti Academics Bhowmick, who is the main researcher for the trial of Sputnik V.
The Ministry of Health Union previously said that the physical certificate provided by the hospital that did the trial would be enough.
The ministry will now provide templates to ICMR to compile vaccination data for non-spared participants.
This data is expected to be captured in Cowin to produce a vaccination certificate.
“I hope ICMR comes out with something sure immediately.
At the time of the clinical trial where I participated finished, a system must be in place,” said Suman Das, the vaccine test participants who are currently underway in the city.