Tuesday, 08 June 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Amidst the fear that the third Covid wave may be infectious for children, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech started the trial of Covaxin, India’s first indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine, among those aged between 2 and 18 at the AIIMS here on Monday. The trial on children has already started at AIIMS Patna to investigate if the jab is suitable for children. Covaxin is being used on adults in India’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive.
“The screening of children for conducting trials of Covaxin has started. Participants would be given the vaccine after their screening reports come,” Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS, said.
Participants would be given the vaccine after their screening report comes. The trial is to be conducted on 525 healthy volunteers. In the trial, the vaccine will be given by intramuscular route in two doses at day 0 and day 28.
Apex drug regulator DCGI had granted permission for conducting the phase 2/3 clinical trial of Covaxin in the age group 2 to 18 years on May 12.
The government last week cautioned that even though COVID-19 has not taken a serious shape among children till now, its impact can increase among them if there is a change in virus behaviour or epidemiology dynamics, and said preparations are being strengthened to deal with any such situation.
A national expert group has been formed to review Covid-19 infections in children and approach the pandemic in a renewed way to strengthen the nation’s preparedness, NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul had said at a press conference.
