Varanasi: The controversial research paper of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has been withdrawn by the International Journal "Drug Safety". This research paper was based on the alleged side effects of Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech, which was reviewed and removed from the public platform after being published. The editor of the journal clarified that the harm of the vaccine was misrepresented in the research.

After the publication of this research, on September 13, Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer of Covaxin, filed a defamation suit of Rs 5 crore against 11 scientists including Prof. Shankha Shubhra Chakraborty of BHU and the journal. This research was done on 1024 people, including 635 teenagers and 291 adults. Data was collected by talking to them over the phone. According to the research, 304 people had respiratory problems, and menstrual irregularities were found in adolescent girls.

The research paper, titled "Covaxin Safety Analysis (BBV152)", was published on May 13. It followed a year-long study of people who took Covaxin in North India. The research found that one-third of the people developed respiratory infections, blood clots, nervous system problems and skin diseases. People suffering from allergies were said to be at particular risk from the vaccine.This research paper had heated up the political atmosphere during the Lok Sabha elections, due to which the opposition made sharp attacks on the government. ICMR's name was also associated with this research, after which on May 28, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) demanded a ban on this research paper. Also, scientists were instructed to remove the name of ICMR.

BHU had also defended this research paper by calling it incomplete. ICMR had issued a notice to BHU's IMS Director Prof. SN Sankhwar seeking clarification. After this, BHU formed an inquiry committee, which found the research to be incomplete and imperfect. This research was jointly conducted by the Pharmacology and Geriatric departments of BHU.