While the Oxford vaccine trial is yet to take off in the city, work on the BCG vaccine trial, which is being tested as a preventive measure against COVID-19 among senior citizens, has been underway for nearly a month now. Doses have already been administered to 24 participants. A team from KEM hospital is now looking for more candidates.

The BCG vaccine gives non-specific immunity from infections and is given to children in India. As part of the ICMR trial in Mumbai, one dose of the vaccine will be given to each of the 250 candidates in the age group of 60-75 years.