The recruitment of children for conducting the Covaxin trials is completed. Almost 175 children are enrolled for age groups— 2-6, 6-12 and 12-18. 

Dr Sanjay Rai, in-charge of the trials, AIIMS Delhi said that most of the children received the first dose of Covaxin and are closely monitored for any complications as well as the immune response that is generated after the vaccine,” said 

The trials on children are also being conducted at five other medical institutions in the country, such as ESI in Delhi, Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute, AIIMS in Patna, Prakhar hospital in Kanpur, Meditrinia Institute of Medical Sciences in Nagpur and Pranaam hospital in Hyderabad.

In India, Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik are approved for adults aged 18 years and above. But no vaccines were approved for children. Pfizer is approved by US and the UK for kids more than 12 years.

Bharat Biotech was permitted by the drug regulatory body for conducting clinical trials of Covaxinon 12th May, and phase II/III trials were started at various centres and at AIIMS Delhi too.

The screening of teens between 12 and 18 years was started to rule out COVID-19 and presence of antibodies. The parents of these kids were asked to sign a consent form for allowing the participation in the trials. Those kids who had cleared the screening process received the vaccine. The same process was followed in kids aged between 2 - 6 and 6 - 12 years.

AIIMS had conducted phase I, II and III trials of Covaxin in adults. The hospital doctors confirmed that they received 4,000 requests for participation when they required only 100 adults. 

The clinical trials are important due to the concern of an impending third wave of the pandemic as experts say might affect the children. But there is no evidence for supporting this claim.

Source: ET Healthworld