Covaxin for children above 2 years by September, says AIIMS chief

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jun 22, 2021: Expect a vaccine for children by September, director of Delhi AIIMS Dr. Randeep Guleria, told India Today TV. The leading pulmonologist and crucial member of the government’s task force on Covid-19 told India Today TV that Covaxin’s data for children after completion of the Phase 2/3 trials will be available by September and the approval is expected same month.

 

He also said that If Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine gets a green signal in India then that could also be an option for children.

On Screening Children

Delhi AIIMS has already started screening children for these trials. This started on June 7 and involves children between the age of 2 to 17.

On May 12, the DCGI had granted permission to Bharat Biotech to carry out phase 2, phase 3 trials of Covaxin on children as young as two.

About Policy

Guleria also said that policymakers must now look at opening up schools in a way that would prevent institutes from becoming super-spreader events. When asked about opening up schools, he said, “a holistic approach has to be taken.”

He said in non-containment zones, calling children to school on an alternate day and ensuring Covid-appropriate behaviour would help. "Open-air schooling would be a good way to avoid infection spread through India’s climate may not permit it," he added.

What Sero Surveys Say

Emphasising that sero surveys have pointed towards antibody production in children, Dr. Guleria says he does not have any reason to believe that children will be worst impacted.

"When children also come for trials, we see anti-bodies in them,” he said, suggesting that children in the country have been exposed to the infection and in spite of not being vaccinated, they would have acquired some amount of natural protection.

A study by AIIMS (New Delhi) and WHO has found high sero-positivity among children. The initial findings of this study indicate that the third wave of Covid infections may not affect children more than others.

Courtesy:India Today