Kolkata Covaxin trial participants start getting Co-Win certificates – Times of India

Kolkata News
KOLKATA: Vaccine trial volunteers who had participated in clinical studies of Covid-19 vaccines in Kolkata have started getting the Co-Win generated vaccination certificates. Some volunteers, who had received two doses of the actual vaccine during the Covaxin trial at NICED Kolkata, were informed on Monday that their data was already updated on Co-Win and that they could download the certificate accordingly. This has brought a sense of hope for trial participants of other Covid-19 vaccines in the city.
On August 10, TOI had reported about the anxiousness among vaccine trial participants who were yet to receive certificates, a document that has assumed much importance this pandemic for travel and entry to certain places.

On Monday evening, Jadavpur resident Saptarshi Bhose got a call from ICMR-NICED saying that he could now download his certificate from Co-Win. Bhose had participated in the Phase III trial of Covaxin at the Beliaghata institute along with his spouse Rai. While Bhose was later told that he had received both doses of the actual vaccine, Rai had received placebo shot.
“I got a call from NICED around 4 pm saying that my name has been uploaded in the Co-Win portal. They asked to confirm whether I could download the same. Finally, I am relieved that I got my vaccination certificate. Thanks to the media for raising this issue,” said the credit risk management professional.
The trial of the first Indian vaccine started at NICED in December. About 1,000 volunteers participated, where 50% got two shots of the actual vaccine. Even as participants who got the actual jabs were given a certificate by the institute, it was not being recognised at all places.
“The delay in getting the vaccination certificate caused anxiety among trial volunteers. Finally, the issue has been sorted out and we are also relieved,” said Shanta Dutta, director ICMR-NICED.
But those who had taken part in the Sputnik-V trial are yet to receive any information on their certificates. Sonarur resident Kalyan Dey, his mother Sipra and wife Pujita Mandal had taken part in the Russian vaccine trial at Peerless Hospital. While his wife got the placebo, Kalyan and his mother got the actual vaccine.
“Since Covaxin trial participants have started getting certificates we hope that we will get it soon,” said Soumya Sarathi Ganguly, a PhD scholar at IIT Kharagpur.
“After the study was unblinded those who received placebo were also offered vaccine by Dr Reddy’s. We hope all will get certificates,” said principal investigator of the Sputnik-V trial Subhrojyoti Bhowmick.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kol-covaxin-trial-participants-start-getting-co-win-certificates/articleshow/85574415.cms