Patna’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has started the paediatric trials for Covaxin.
Covaxin, a Covid-19 vaccine is being manufactured by Bharat Biotech. The company has received the nod from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) nod to conduct clinical trials in children on May 11.
VK Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog had earlier said, “Covaxin has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), for Phase II/III clinical trials in the age group of 2 to 18 years.”
AIIMS-Patna superintendent Dr CM Singh had said they are targeting to include between 70 and 80 children in the trial phase that began with the registration of a 13-year-old Patna boy, on Friday, reported The Times Of India. However, all those who get registered will not be vaccinated. He said hospitals will get the RT-PCR and antibody tests done and only those who are negative or have not tested positive earlier will be allowed.
India has three COVID-19 vaccine – Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, Serum Institute’s Covishield and Russia’s Sputnik V. Covaxin and Covishield are being manufactured in India.
India started the world’s largest vaccination drive on January 16 this year in a phased manner. In the first phase, healthcare workers (HCWs) were inoculated. The first phase started on February 2.
The second phase of Covid-19 vaccination started from March 1. In this phase, people over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions, were covered. India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 from April 1.