New Delhi, May 18: Clinical trials to test Covaxin vaccine’s efficacy in children between two to 18 years of age will begin in 10-12 days, top officials said on Tuesday.
Addressing the Union Health Ministry press conference, NITI Aayog’s Member Health, Dr V.K. Paul said: “Covaxin has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for Phase 2 and 2 clinical trials in the age group of two to 18 years. I have been told that trials will begin in the next 10-12 days.”
Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech received the DCGI approval to conduct clinical trials of Covaxin in children on May 11, following the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s subject expert committee’s recommendation, under certain conditions.
Approval of clinical trials of vaccine efficacy among children came amid reports from the US and Canada allowing Pfizer-BioNTech for the 12-15 age groups.
The announcement came amid reports that new variants are also affecting children.
The clinical trials are expected to be conducted among over 500 participants at various hospitals across the country. AIIMS Director, Dr Randeep Guleria had said that the need of the hour is some quick data and risk-benefit analysis of the vaccine’s use in children.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the government put in place a vaccine protocol for children.
Over 1.94 crore vaccine doses available with states and UTs: Centre
More than 1.94 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and Union Territories, while one lakh jabs will be delivered to them within the next three days, the Centre said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Union Health Ministry said more than 20.78 crore vaccine doses have been made available to states and UTs far.
“The government has so far provided, both through the free of cost category and through direct state procurement category, more than 20.78 crore vaccine doses (20,78,04,890) to States/UTs. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages is 18,83,47,432 doses (as per data available at 8 AM today),” it said.
“More than 1.94 crore COVID vaccine doses (1,94,57,458) are still available with the States/UTs to be administered. Furthermore, 1 lakh (1,00,000) vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the States/UTs within the next three days,” the ministry said.
The Health Ministry further said that in the second quarter of May 2021 (May 18 to May 31, 2021), 1.95 crore doses would be made available free of cost by the government to all States/UTs. This advance information has already been shared with States/UTs by the Centre, the statement said.
“In addition, 72.40 lakh doses would be available for direct procurement by the States/UTs,” it said.
COVID-related materials dispatched to J&K
Union Minister Jitendra Singh dispatched consignments of face masks, sanitiser and other COVID-19-related materials for Jammu and Srinagar on Tuesday, according to an official statement.
He said that similar consignments had been sent to the six districts of Jammu and Kashmir falling in his Udhampur parliamentary constituency earlier. Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, had now sought to arrange similar consignments for other parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The minister said it is not easily feasible to arrange very huge supplies from voluntary sources but he, with the cooperation of like-minded citizens, will try to reach out as far as possible to different areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh said that even though he is convalescing after COVID-19 infection which required hospitalisation, he is maintaining contact at different levels in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the northeastern states, the statement said.
He reiterated his call to all political parties to rise above differences and unitedly fight India’s war against COVID-19 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narenda Modi. (Agencies)
