RNS: An expert panel on Tuesday recommended Covaxin (COVID-19 vaccine) for phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trial on younger population aged between 2 to 18 years, official sources said.
The trial will take place in 525 subjects at various sites, including AIIMS, Delhi, AIIMS, Patna and Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, said the official.
Covaxin, indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being used in the people of 18+ age groups in ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive across the country.
Beside Covaxin, Covishield is also being used for vaccination among the 18 and above age groups. Serum Institute of India (SII) is producing University of Oxford and AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine— Covishield in India.
Notably, Covaxin, has been found to neutralise Double Mutant or 617 variant of the Coronavirus. Trial results later showed the vaccine has an efficacy of 78 per cent.
Covaxin vaccine was approved for emergency use on 3 January. It is indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in partnership with National Institute of Virology and Indian Council of Medical Research.
