AIIMS Delhi Chief: Covaxin for children above 2 years of age by September

According to Delhi AIIMS head Dr Randeep Guleria, Covaxin, which was the first indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech, would be accessible for children by the month of September.

Covaxin's results for children, following conclusion of the Phase 2/3 trials, would be ready by September, according to the AIIMS Delhi chief, who is also a key member of the government's task force on Covid-19, who told India Today TV that clearance is likely to be obtained in the same month.

Furthermore, he added that if Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine is approved in India, it may also be accepted as one of the alternatives available to children.

Delhi AIIMS had initiated the process of vaccination clinical trials on children aged 2 to 17 on June 7th.

Bharat Biotech was granted approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in May to begin phase 2-3 trials of Covaxin on children as young as two years old.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) accepted and authorised the phase 3 trial data of Covaxin, which demonstrated 77.8% efficacy, on Tuesday, according to ANI. This data will now be reviewed by the DCGI.

Children have a high level of seropositivity, according to a study conducted by AIIMS Delhi and WHO. According to the preliminary findings of this study, the third wave of Covid infections may not impact children any more than the previous two waves.

Despite the fact that sero surveys have shown that children produce antibodies, Dr Guleria said he has no reason to assume that children would be the ones who suffer the most.

Dr Guleria further stated that authorities must now consider opening up schools in such a way that institutions do not become super-spreader hotspots. “A holistic approach has to be taken,” he added when questioned about reopening schools.