COVID-19 crisis: WB teacher Chiranjit Dhibar gets call for human trial of coronavirus vaccine in Odisha

As coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country, a 30-year old teacher,  Chiranjit Dhibar,  from West Bengal Durgapur, and an RSS worker, is all set to become the first person to participate in the human trial of the  COVID-19 vaccine in India.

Dhibar willingly came forward to participate in the clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine which is being developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech. He has received a call from the Patna center of ICMR to get the antigen of the virus. 

He is expected to heard for Odisha where the vaccine will be administered on him.

Media reports say that he had applied for the clinical trial in April. 

"Inspired by the RSS, I have donated my body for the benefit of the state and society to COVID-19 vaccine trials," he stated in his Facebook post.

In a bid to put clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine in top gear, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had joined hands with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL).     

In an official statement, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said that ICMR aims to launch the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by August 15.

"It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by 15th August 2020 after completion of all clinical trials. BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target, however, the final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project," read the statement.

"This is the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India and is one of the top priority projects which is being monitored at the topmost level of the Government. The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and BBIL are jointly working for the preclinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine," the statement added.

Drug Controller General of India CDSCO (The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization) has given approval for a human clinical trial of two Indian COVID-19 vaccines - COVAXIN and ZyCov-D on Sunday.

India is now just behind the United States and Brazil in terms of the total confirmed cases as it already overtook Russia to take the third spot in the list of worst-hit nations in the world affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It is, therefore, also the biggest epicenter of the coronavirus disease pandemic in Asia.

With over 22,700 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count on Wednesday crossed the 7.42 lakh-mark, while the death toll has crossed the 20,600-mark as well.

At 9:30 AM on this day, the COVID-19 tally in the country has reached 7,42,417 cases, which include 2,64,944 active cases; 4,56,831 cured, discharged, or migrated patients, and 20,642 deaths.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as many as 22,752 new COVID-19 cases and 482 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, marking a significant spike.

The Health Ministry said that the Union Government has emphasized on increasing testing, prompt contact tracing, and timely clinical management of the COVID19 cases.

The central government still keeps denying that community transmission is taking place in India.