Resident doctors at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital demanded to be administered with Covishield vaccine and not Covaxin since the former has completed all three stages of trials as required under protocol.
While the second one, that is produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech is still undergoing stage-III trail phase.
However, the central government has sought to underplay such hesitation saying “a lot of work” had gone into the development of both products.
The resident doctors of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital have even said they might not participate in huge numbers if Covaxin is used.
“Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech is being preferred over Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute in our hospital…We would like to bring to your notice that the residents are a bit apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in the case of Covaxin and might not participate in huge numbers thus defeating the purpose of the vaccination,” the Resident Doctors Association of the hospital said today in a letter to the medical superintendent of the facility.
“We request you to vaccinate us with Covishield which has completed all stages of the trial before its rollout,” the letter said.
Dr Nirmalaya Mohapatra, Vice-President of the hospital’s Resident Doctors Association, said a lot of doctors have not given their names for the countrywide drive launched today.
The Oxford University and pharma major AstraZeneca has developed by Covishield vaccine and is produced in India by the Serum Institute of India, Pune.
On the other hand, covaxin has been produced by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Covaxin is being used in six central government facilities, in Delhi alone, and Covishield at 75, including state government facilities and private hospitals. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital is a central government institution
The Indian government had earlier suggested that Covaxin will be used as an emergency option but went on to say later that recipients wouldn’t have a choice in the matter of the two vaccines.
