New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi is set to begin recruitment for clinical trials Of Covaxin vaccine on Children aged 6-12. According to reports, the recruitment for the clinical trial of the country's first indigenously-developed COVID-19 vaccine among children will begin from Tuesday (June 15). This will be followed by the clinical trial of children in the age-group of 2-6 years.
News agency PTI quoted Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at the AIIMS, who confirmed the development saying that, "The recruitment process for the clinical trial of Covaxin among children in the age group of 6-12 years will begin from Tuesday."
As per the report, AIIMS Delhi has already completed the enrolment of children volunteers aged 12-18 years and they have been given the first dose of Covaxin.
Earlier, VK Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog had 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."
After witnessing the havoc created by the second Covid wave, experts have continuously suggested that it is necessary for India to prepare for the third one which primarily will affect the children. The only way possible to protect children is to get them vaccinated.
However, the vaccines being used in India - Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V - have not been approved for use on children.