New Delhi: The government is exploring all possibilities to conduct phase III clinical trial of Russian COVID-19 vaccine (Sputnik V) on Indian volunteers, and four companies have already it for the the vaccine's manufacturing, NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said on Tuesday.
Paul, who also heads the expert committee on vaccine administration, said, "India and the Russian government are in talks for last few weeks after the authorities of our friendly country approached us for manufacturing and phase III clinical trial of their vaccine."
Paul added that four domestic companies had already approached the government for manufacturing the Russian vaccine.
"Government of India attached its importance to Russia and there has been significant development on talks over the vaccine. We are looking into the manufacturing, trial and regularity issues involving Russian vaccine," Paul said.
He said that Phase I and II trial of the Russian vaccine have already yield positive results.
Paul admitted that there has been increase in number of positive cases in the country. "As we have started economic activities along with extensive testing, there may me more positive cases... but we have to be alert and take precautions," he said.
However, he said that the number of positive Covid cases has not yet stabilised in India. "Our population is susceptive so the number will also increase," he said.
Urging people to come forward and undergo testing, Paul said, "We get reports that people even with symptoms hesitate to conduct testing, which is a very strong source of spreading the virus. If we get tested, treatment will also be done first."
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He was referring to reports that suggested people were getting relaxed as far as taking precautions against Covid-19 was concerned.
"This is not rocket science. We are experimenting everyday with medicines and all," added Paul.
Stressing that COVID-19 was a new virus and kept changing, Paul said, "Accordingly we are changing our strategies to handle the situation too. Earlier we used to do limited testing, and now testing can be done on demand without doctors' prescription."
He informed that Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila are conducting phase III trial and Serum Institute of India will start phase III clinical trial of Oxford vaccine by next week.
Echoing similar views, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhusan said that many of the state governments keep complaining that people are not following the testing protocol.
"In some states, persons found negative in rapid antigen test but having Covid symptoms, are not going for RT PCR test, which is mandatory according to the clinical protocol," said Bhushan.
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He said that states have been asked to chase the virus by identifying the infected person.
"In fact, people who run away by avoiding RTPCR tests, are spreading the virus," said Bhushan.
Talking about India's present position in handling Covid-19, Bhushan said that India's Covid-19 cases per million is the lowest in the world.
"India registers 3,102 cases per million population against the world average of 3,527. Cases per million population in Brazil and US are six times their corresponding figure in India," said Bhushan.
He said that 21 states and UTs are doing more tests per million population that the national average of 36,703.
The country has conducted more than five crore tests till date with more than 10 lakh tests conducted daily in the week.
"The increasing testing has also increased the number of recovered patients. Till date, India has more than 33 lakh recovered patients with only 8,83,697 active cases at present," Bhushan said.
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He said that India's death per million population is also the lowest in the world. India registers 53 deaths per million population against the world average of 115.
Spain with 631 deaths per million population, Brazil with 597 and US with 585 deaths per million population are leading the global list with maximum fatalities.
Bhushan said that India's case fatality rate is also below two percent and is declining. As on date, India's case fatality rate is below two percent.
He said that five states - Maharashtra (27 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (11 per cent), Karnataka (11 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (7 per cent) and Tamil Nadu with 6 percent accounted for more than 62 per cent of total active cases in the country. These five states also accounted for 70 per cent of the total deaths in the country.
Interestingly, 14 states and UTs have registered less than 5,000 active cases including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, most of the northeastern states, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh among others.
He also informed that six people of a primitive tribe of Andaman who were tested Covid positive, have been cured.
There are five notified particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) namely Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Sentinelese, Onge and Shompen.
Bhushan informed that as many as 27 states and UTs have case fatality rate lower than the national average of two per cent.
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