"7 More Vaccines In Trials, Some In Advanced Phases": Health Minister

The Union Health Minister was speaking after he and his wife got their second dose - of Covaxin - at Delhi's Heart And Lung Institute

There are seven more COVID-19 vaccine candidates in various stages of clinical trials, and a further two dozen in pre-clinical trials, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said Tuesday afternoon as he took his second dose of Covaxin at the Delhi Heart And Lung Institute. "Around seven more Covid vaccine candidates are in clinical trials. Some of them are in advanced phases of the trials. Around two dozen vaccines are in pre-clinical trials," Dr Vardhan said. "Both Indian vaccines are safe and effective. A lot of people still have doubts... I urge them not to believe what is being circulated in 'WhatsApp University'," he added, "There are only a few rare cases where people contracted COVID-19 after taking vaccines". The Health Minister explained that even if someone tested positive after getting the vaccine, the drug "minimalises chances of hospitalization or admission to ICU wards".