Covid: Clinical trial of Covaxin on children begins at AIIMS, Patna

NEW DELHI: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Patna on Wednesday began clinical trials of the indigenous Covaxin for children in the age group of 2 to 18 years, according to Prasar Bharati.
Registration for the children to participate in the second phase clinical trial of the Covid-19 vaccine was made open from last week at AIIMS-Patna.
The move came after the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) granted permission for the phase 2-3 clinical trial of Covaxin on children.AIIMS-Patna has been selected as one of the sites for the trial along with other institutes such as AIIMS-Delhi and Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur.
AIIMS-Patna superintendent Dr CM Singh had said they are targeting to include between 70 and 80 children in the trial phase that began with the registration of a 13-year-old Patna boy, on Friday. However, all those who get registered will not be vaccinated. He said hospitals will get the RT-PCR and antibody tests done and only those who are negative or have not tested positive earlier will be allowed.