AIIMS Delhi to start screening children from Monday for Covaxin trials

This comes a week after similar trials began in AIIMS, Patna. The Drugs Controller General of India had on May 11 given the permission for the trials to be conducted on children.

The All India Medical Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is expected to start screening of children for clinical trials of India-made Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin from Monday. Last week, AIIMS Patna started a similar trial for Bharat Biotech's children aged between 12 and 18.

A worker sanitises at Sadar Bazar market area on Sunday ahead of its reopening, as part of Delhi government's order of gradual unlocking of Covid-induced restrictions. (PTI Photo)

After getting permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), AIIMS Delhi is now starting the screening process before starting the actual trials, news agency ANI reported.

The DCGI's approval came after a recommendation on May 12 by a Subject Expert Committee (SEC), it further reported.

The paediatric trials for Covaxin started in AIIMS Patna last Tuesday after Bharat Biotech's vaccine received DCGI nod on May 11 to conduct clinical trials on children.

"After these trials, the age group will be 6-12 years and then 2-6 years but now we have started trials in the age group of 12-18 years," said Dr Prabhat Kumar Singh, Director, AIIMS, Patna.

Dr Singh informed that 54 children registered for the trials of which 16 were in the age group of 12-18. Apart from physical examination, RT-PCR tests were also conducted on these children to check for Covid-19 antibodies or any other pre-existing diseases, he added.

India started the world's largest vaccination drive on January 16 this year in a phased manner with healthcare workers getting inoculated first. The vaccination of frontline workers started on February 2.

The next phase of Covid-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 from April 1.

The third phase of the vaccination started on May 1 for the beneficiary aged between 18-44.

India has three Covid-19 vaccine - Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, AstraZeneca's Covishield and Russia's Sputnik V. Covaxin and Covishield are being manufactured in India.

(With inputs from agencies)