A top ICMR official told a parliamentary panel on August 19 that phase-two clinical trial of two indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine candidates have almost been completed and emergency authorisation of a vaccine could be considered if the Centre decides so.

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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General informed members of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs that the vaccine candidates developed by Bharat Biotech, Cadila and the Serum Institute of India are at different stages of trial, said an MP present in the meeting.

The COVID-19 vaccine candidates coordinated by Bharat Biotech and Cadila are nearing completion of phase-two trails. The one being handled by the Serum Institute of India and developed by Oxford University will enter phase-2 (b) trials this weekend for which 1,700 patients have been identified at 17 centres across the country, the MP said. According to MPs who attended the meeting, when asked how long people will have to live with the pandemic, Bhargava replied that normally the final trial takes about six to nine months but if the governments decides, an emergency authorisation could be considered.

Responding to queries by the panel about the saliva test cleared by FDA in the US for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2, Bhargava said informed that taking samples from gargled water is already under consideration and further details will be available soon, said another MP who attended the meeting. Members of the parliamentary committee cutting across party lines complemented the ICMR in particular and the medical fraternity in general for their committed role in fighting the pandemic.

They appreciated the ICMR for its pioneering role in coordinating the scientific and medical aspects of the battle against COVID-19 and appreciated AIIMS, Delhi, for its effective contribution as a lead mentor for hospitals across the country on various aspects of the pandemic management. The committee members expressed concern over stigmatisation of infected people both by kin and neighbours and noted that those afflicted by COVID-19 and have recovered are not harmful, instead beneficial to the society.

About the mental stress among the people due to the pandemic, ICMR agreed to the panel members' suggestion of reviewing the existing limited set of guidelines relating to management of psychological stress, an MP in the panel said. The apex medical research body also told the committee that it may soon come out with comprehensive revised guidelines so as to help all the concerned to cope with the stress caused by the outbreak of the viral disease. Among various issues raised, the panel members drew the ICMR's attention to the situation being faced by school children in particular, as with online learning they are required to spend long hours in front of computers and other gadgets which is adversely impacting their eyesight and causing psychological stress.

The meeting, chaired by the senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, lasted for over four hours and discussed various aspects of management of the COVID-19 pandemic and also its impact on the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. The Secretary, Ministry of MSMEs also appeared before the panel and briefed it about the impact of pandemic on the sector.

The Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee stressed that the sector which contributes 50 percent of the total exports, 30 percent of GDP besides employing over 11 crore people was among the worst hit by the pandemic. The Secretary in the Ministry of MSMEs informed the panel that only 9 percent of the total 6.33 crore MSME units have been shut due to the pandemic and there has been an improvement in capacity utilisation over the last few months.

He said the committee would like to present a detailed report on the handling of pandemic to both the Houses of Parliament in the Monsoon Session based on the experiences of various stakeholders and lessons learned which would serve as a useful guide for the future, sources said.