Vaccine Trial, Jan 9: A man from Madhya Pradesh reportedly died after participating in the ‘Covaxin’ vaccine trial in December is a shocking development amid the Centre’s efforts to provide a potential cure to citizens against the deadly Covid-19 virus.
The 42-year-old volunteer from Bhopal died barely 10 days after he had participated in the clinical trial for the vaccine at a private hospital, its vice-chancellor said on Saturday.
Dr. Rajesh Kapur, Vice-Chancellor of the People’s Medical College and Hospital, said that Deepak Marawi had volunteered for the Covaxin trial held on 12 December 2020.
However, Madhya Pradesh Medico-Legal Institute Director Dr. Ashok Sharma claimed that the doctor who performed the post-mortem of the deceased suspected ‘poisoning’ as the cause of death.
“After Marawi’s death on December 21, we informed the Drug Controller General of India and Bharat Biotech, which is the producer and sponsor of the trial. All protocols were followed and Marawi’s consent was taken before allowing him to participate in the trial,” Kapur said.
Kapur, though, cannot confirm whether Marawi was given the vaccine or a placebo.
“It (the vial containing the liquid for trial) comes covered and coded. During the trial, 50 percent of people get the actual injection while the rest are given saline,” he stated.
The doctor said that Marawi was kept under observation for 30 minutes after the trial as per the guidelines before being allowed to go. “We monitored his health for 7 to 8 days,” he claimed.
Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Dr. Prabhuram Choudhary too suspected poisoning based on the post-mortem report.
“The after-effects of the vaccination are visible in a person within 30 minutes. No side-effects were seen even between 24 & 48 hours of vaccination. The post-mortem report suggested poisoning,” he said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requested people to take the matter sensitively and not form misconceptions about the vaccine.
“The viscera have been sent for testing. I urge all to take this matter sensitively so that no unnecessary misconception on the vaccine is formed that’ll affect vaccination. The report will come, but I’m confident that if there’s an after-effect, it shows within 24 hours or 2-3 days, not after several days,” the MP CM said.
Meanwhile, Marawi’s family members claimed that he and his colleague were administered the Covaxin injection during the trial.
“When he returned home he felt uneasy and experienced some health problems. He complained of shoulder pain on December 17. Two days later, he spewed foam. He refused to see a doctor saying he would be alright in a day or two. When his condition deteriorated, he was being rushed to hospital but he died midway (on December 21),” they said.
