A clinical trial expert in Kolkata, who participated in the first trial of Sputnik vaccine in India, moved Calcutta High Court on Tuesday over the participants not receiving vaccination certificate through CoWIN app. They had participated in the clinical trial from December 2020 till July 2021.
Russia's Sputnik V vaccine received emergency use approval in India in April 2021 on the basis of efficacy and safety data generated in the participants of the trial, and lakhs of Indians received Sputnik vaccination in the country.
“The CoWIN generated vaccination certificates are still not issued to the participants after repeated reminders to government authorities and Dr Reddy’s laboratories,” said Subhrojyoti Bhowmik, clinical trial specialist in Kolkata.
There are around 50 people in Kolkata who participated in the trial.
He said everyone who received Sputnik vaccine in India received the CoWIN generated certificate, except those who participated in the trial.
“This is leading to major problems for the participants, which include difficulty in frequent air travel and entering national monuments. Hence a PIL has been filed in Calcutta High Court.”
The petition has been filed against the ministry of health and family welfare, government of India and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), seeking to know by when can the certificates be made available for 50 trial participants in Kolkata.
This is for the first time a senior doctor in Kolkata moved court against the CoWIN app. Earlier, the British government had refused to recognise Covishield vaccine citing that the CoWIN app of the government of India is a faulty one.
The ministry of health and ICMR is yet to issue any statement.
However, a senior virologist in Kolkata said, “The certificate for the trial participants has certain procedures to follow. It has to be done between the vaccine manufacturer and the government of India. ICMR must be impressed by the report.”