AIIMS Delhi is to start trials on children today following AIIMS Patna that has started Covaxin trials in the age group of 12-18 years.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has been approved by the DCGI, for Phase II/III clinical trials in the age group of 2 to 18 years. Earlier, AIIMS Patna has started the Paediatric clinical trial of the Covaxin after Bharat Biotech got the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approval to conduct clinical trials on children on May 11.
Now Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is to clinical trials of Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine “Covaxin” on children on Monday.
The trial of Bharat Biotech’s Covid vaccine (Covaxin) will be conducted on 525 healthy volunteers at different places across India.
The trial will study aspects such as:
1. The safety of the vaccine in this age group (children).
2. The different kinds of adverse reactions and the reasons for such reactions if any.
3. The trial will also study the vaccine’s capacity to prompt an immune response.
The clinical trials involve two Covid-19 vaccine shots injected on day 0 and day 28.
Previously, Covaxin has been approved for use in those above 18 years of age.
Recently, it was reported that that the Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila is also testing its Covid-19 vaccine children in the age group of 12-18 years. However, the company is yet to apply for licensure in the next two weeks.
During the COVID-19 crisis, AIIMS hospitals over India have proven to be fortresses of great care for patients. The first AIIMS was established in 1956 under the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Act, 1956.
This was originally proposed by the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru for establishment in Calcutta, it was established in New Delhi following the refusal of Chief Minister of West Bengal Bidhan Chandra Roy. Today, India is grateful to Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and Princess Amrit Kaur who was instrumental in acquiring a huge amount from the New Zealand government for the funding of AIIMS too and others instrumental in building this massive health infrastructure. India now needs to focus on building more medical centers such as AIIMS and really vamp up the medical infrastrucure.