Fact Check: Did Bharat Biotech VP take the first dose of 'Covaxin'?
Fact Check: Did Bharat Biotech VP took the first dose of ‘Covaxin’?
There is news that the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) is all set to launch an indigenous anti-COVID vaccine called "Covaxin" by August 15 for people.
In the interim, a picture of a woman in medical gear injecting in a man's veins is circulating on social media. This picture claim that the first dose of the vaccine was administered on VK Srinivas, BBIL vice president as part of human trial.
Dr V. K.Srinivas,Vice President, Bharat biotech,taking Corona vaccine.clinical trial
— @Mohan45631 (@mohan45631) July 3, 2020
Immediately after taking the first dose he said the first person in India to take vaccine developed by him and his team in Bharat Biotech
Look at the confidence that they have in their product. pic.twitter.com/I3QbJnM5WA
Several Twitter and Facebook users have shared an image captioned, "Dr V. K.Srinivas, Vice President, Bharat biotech, taking Corona vaccine... Clinical trial immediately after taking the first dose he said that he is the first person in India to take vaccine developed by him and his team in Bharat Biotech Look at the confidence that they have in their product."
This image is being circulated on WhatsApp.
Bharat Biotech denied that the image is of clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine. The picture going viral is of "routine procedural blood draw for testing all production staff", it confirmed.
— Mukesh Dudhiya (@mukeshdudhiya) July 3, 2020
Above is the tweet made by Mukesh Dudhiya after the image went viral, refuting the claim. Part of its rebuttal says, "Certain images and messages being circulated on WhatsApp and other social media platforms have NOT been disseminated by Bharat Biotech. The image being circulated is a routine procedural blood draw for testing all production staff."