Clinical Trials Still Ongoing On Efficacy Of Third Covid Jab: Centre

The Centre's submission came while opposing a man's plea for a third dose of an internationally recognised vaccine so that he can go abroad for work.

Clinical trials are underway to ascertain efficacy of administering a third dose of COVID vaccine and it will take several months to complete, the Centre told the Kerala High Court on Thursday while opposing a man's plea for a third jab of an internationally recognised vaccine so that he can go abroad for work. The man, who was working as a welder in Saudi Arabia, moved the court for a third jab as the two doses of COVAXIN he has received is not recognised or approved in the Gulf nation and therefore, he stands to lose his job there as he cannot go there without being vaccinated by an internationally recognised vaccine. The central government told Justice P B Suresh Kumar that the only option in the instant case was for the man to await the results of the clinical trials. The Centre said that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) is the body which decides the policy on vaccination and it was still considering the efficacy of administering a third dose.