Haryana Health Min tests +ve weeks after getting trial dose of Covid vaccine

Chandigarh: Haryana Health minister Anil Vij, who got one shot of the trial dose of Covid vaccine Covaxin weeks ago, on Saturday said that he has tested positive for Coronavirus.

Vij said antibodies start to develop after administration of the second dose, which is given 28 days after the first shot, and there is no protection during this period.

The 67-year-old minister was given the first shot on November 20.

"I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona (sic)," tweeted Vij who is also the state's Home minister.

Stressing that experts would know better about how the Covid vaccine works, Vij said: "I was told that antibodies start to develop after the second dose, which is administered after 28 days of getting the first shot. And full antibodies are developed 14 days after the second dose is given. So, the complete cycle takes 42 days. In between, there is no protection."

Asked about his condition, Vij said he has sore throat, fever and body ache.

The minister said he had gone to Panipat a few days ago where he spent two to three hours with a BJP leader, who too has tested positive for COVID-19.

Covaxin is a two-dose anti-Coronavirus vaccine and Vij, who had volunteered for its phase-three trial, was given only the first dose, the Union Health ministry clarified on Saturday hours after the minister announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Vij had offered to be the first volunteer in the phase three trials for Covaxin, an indigenous potential vaccine against COVID-19 being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).