Meet the man who risked his life for Oxford University's COVID vaccine human trials

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Deepak Paliwal said he has volunteered himself and rendered his contribution in the human trials which are being conducted for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Oxford University.

Raipur: Deepak Paliwal, an Indian origin citizen of London, has made a praiseworthy contribution to the society by rendering his contribution in the human trials which are being conducted for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Oxford University.

ETV Bharat had a special conversation with Deepak Paliwal about the ongoing trial of the vaccine.

Hailing from Jaipur, Paliwal has volunteered himself and has got the corona vaccine tested on his body. In this way, Deepak has participated in the first-ever successful human trials of the corona vaccine.

Deepak works as a consultant in a London based pharmaceutical company. He said that he was aware of the risk involved to his life due to this test, but he had decided in prior itself that he also has to do something for the welfare of mankind.

About his decision to try vaccine on himself, Paliwal said, "A wave of negativity has spread all over the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I came to know through a friend that trials are about to begin regarding Coronavirus, so I also got myself registered online, for the same. Since the global pandemic, I could not even go back to India, therefore I decided to take part in the trials. The sole objective was that if something better could happen by my involvement, so be it."

"I did not inform my family members in Jaipur, except my wife, regarding the same because obviously they would not have let me do so, hence I thought it is better not to tell them anything about the same. Although my wife expressed her concern over this, she never opposed my decision," he said.

Regarding the question of not taking money in lieu of this human trial, Deepak said that 'Volunteer itself means doing something voluntarily’. Even if money was given for this test, I would not have taken it. Because if I worked for money, then my motive of social service would have got hampered.

Deepak said that the test was conducted on the 11th of May.

"Day before the trial, there was some fear in my mind, because rumours about a volunteer's death had emerged on social media. Doctors showed some videos and 10 minutes before the injection, they made it very clear that there was no compulsion for it," he said.

Following this, the doctor administered an intramuscular injection on his arm. After that, he was tracked for two hours to see if there was any reaction. He was sent home only after examining his entire body.

On asking if he felt any change in his body after the said trial, Deepak said that he did not feel anything unusual. There has been no side effect or change whatsoever in his body after the injection was given.

While giving a message through ETV Bharat, Deepak Paliwal said that till the time COVID vaccine comes into the market, only two remedies will work - mask and social distancing. Therefore, people must keep these two things in mind.