7 docs, nurses given consent forms for BCG trials

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 1

On the first of clinical trials on the tuberculosis vaccine BCG (Baccillus Calmette Guerin), Pt BD Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) authorities today handed over consent forms to seven doctors and nurses taking care of Covid patients.

A team of experts conducted quality check of the BCG vaccine shots and found these fit for trials to be conducted on 175 attendants of Covid patients. The research aimed to explore whether BCG was effective in warding off Covid.

“The process of taking consent from doctors and nurses in the isolation ward started today. We contacted seven doctors and nurses. Their samples will be taken after getting their consent. They will be administered the vaccine on being found Covid negative,” said Dr Savita Verma, professor in the department of pharmacology and principal investigator for the research.

She pointed out that norms did not allow them to take the consent of more than seven persons in a day.

She said the process would continue till the target was achieved and the vaccine would be administered immediately after Covid test.

Dr Ramesh Verma, professor in the department of community medicine and co-investigator, said cold chain of the BCG vaccine and other mandatory conditions were examined during the quality check.

“After vaccination, those involved in trials will be kept under observation for 180 days to find the effect. A mobile application has been developed for those taking part in the trials so they can fill in a questionnaire during this period. The follow-up will be done online, but they will be called in person for follow-up, if required,” he said.

He said Covid was essentially infecting people with low immunity and the study would aim to find whether the BCG shot proved helpful in protection against Covid by raising immunity.