The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has begun screening children for trials of COVID Vaccine COVAXIN. COVAXIN is the first home grown COVID-19 vaccine which will be tested on children.

““The screening of children for conducting trial of Covaxin has started. Participants would be given the vaccine after their screening reports come,” Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS.

This screening has begun today, after AIIMS Delhi got approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI).

AIIMS Delhi is stepping up the process, after AIIMS Patna began trials of COVAXIN on children between 12-18 years old last week.  DGCI approval was cemented after the Subject Expert Committee (SEG) gave their recommendation on May 12.

COVAXIN is currently being administered across India, to persons above 18 years of age.

Though COVID has not affected younger children significantly, these trials of the home made vaccine on children have been put on the fast track as a means of caution against a possible and highly expected third wave. This is a high probability if there is a change in the behavior of the virus (or epidemiology dynamics).

The trials process began after a national expert group was formed to review COVID-19 infections in children and approach the pandemic in a renewed way to strengthen the nation’s preparedness, NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul had said at a press conference.

It has also considered available data, clinical profile, the country’s experience, disease dynamics, nature of the virus and the pandemic and has come up with guidelines, which will be publicly released soon.