AIIMS Delhi to start second dose trial of Covaxin on 2-6 years old children by next week
The second dose of Covaxin has already been given to children aged between 6 to 12 years at AIIMS, Delhi, which is one of the centres for trials of the vaccine for those below 18 years.
FollowNew Delhi: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi will commence the second dose trial of Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, for children aged 2-6 years.
The second dose of the vaccine has already been given to children aged between 6 to 12 years at AIIMS, Delhi.
Trials for coronavirus vaccine for children are underway in the country ahead of an anticipated third wave of the pandemic. Earlier, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria had said the vaccine for children could be available in September.
Meanwhile, the government had earlier informed the Delhi High Court that Zydus Cadila has concluded the clinical trial of its DNA-based Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D for the 12-18 age group and that it could soon be available.
Additionally, the results of clinical trials are expected to come in one month after the completion of trials of all age groups. The trial is being conducted in three phases by segregating children into categories according to their age.
The first trial was started in the age group of 12-18 years followed by the age group of 6-12 years and 2-6 years which are currently undergoing trials.
To conduct the trials, the children have been segregated into categories as per their age and 175 children of each age group have been included.
Once they get the second dose, an interim report is likely to be released by August which will present a clear picture about the safety of vaccines on children.
Earlier this week, the Union government informed the Delhi High Court that clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines for children under 18 years of age would be completed soon.
In an affidavit dated 15 July, Satyendra Singh, Under Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, "It is submitted that Zydus Cadila which is developing a DNA vaccine has successfully concluded its clinical trial for the 12-18 age group."
Singh further said that Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila's DNA vaccine is "subject to the statutory permissions, the same may be available in the near future for children of the 12-18 age group ".
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