Coronavirus vaccine warrior: This man put his life at risk to volunteer for Oxford vaccine development

When the novel coronavirus outbreak started spreading at an unprecedented rate, there were certain people across the world, who rose to the occasion to take care of one another. Yes, in the middle of panic-buying and hoarding (and neglecting the needs of others), we also have individuals who were thinking beyond themselves and wanted to do anything to help people at large. In addition to our frontline workers, who bravely put on their masks and gloves every day to help save as many lives as possible, others also decided to do their bit to fight the coronavirus.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the world, Deepak Paliwal, a UK citizen of Indian descent, desperately wanted to contribute in any form in this battle against the contagion. Hence, when he heard that Phase 2, clinical trials of the vaccine developed by Oxford University were taking place in five centres in the UK, he knew he had found the way.

Currently, there are more than 150 vaccine candidates in various stages of trials to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, including AZD1222, formerly known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-1. It is a potential vaccine being developed by the Oxford University. It is made by using a weakened strain of the common cold virus (adenovirus) and combining it with the genetic material of spike protein of the novel coronavirus.

The 42-year-old pharmaceutical consultant, who lives with his wife in London, gave an interview to BBC where he shared how he decided to help in this fight against the contagion. He explained that he was informed about the phase 2 clinical trials by one of his friends and his wife did not agree with his decision at the beginning. Despite this, Deepak went ahead for the screening process which took place on 16th April, for a complete check-up before the trial.

Additionally, he was made well-aware of all the risks involved in the process of the clinical trial, including organ failure and mortality, but Deepak still did not have any second thoughts about participating in the same. For the unversed, phase 2 of clinical trials were done on 1000 healthy volunteers including Deepak.

Deepak elaborates that even though he was worried for his loved ones, including his wife, his mother, his sister and the extended family, it did not deter him from going ahead with the trials as he wanted to do his bit during the testing times. The vaccine candidate was injected in his arm on 11 May 2020 and he was asked to wait for two hours post that. Recalling some of the effects of the trial vaccine, he says that he did have fever and chills on the same evening and experienced some soreness and pain at the site of injection.

As of now, he has to continue monitoring his health parameter report for the researchers and he has to report for 90 days and 6 months follow-up as well. Deepak and other volunteers like him, who put their lives at stake for a larger good, are the driving force behind the development of a vaccine which is safe for the human use to fight the pandemic.