Bharat Biotech has been conducting Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for its covid19 vaccine-Covaxin for the age group 2 to 18 and in two-to-three months from now experts would know if the vaccine works on children below 18.
The Hyderabad-based vaccine makers have begun the trials this month and vaccine efficacy against coronavirus infection in children as young as two is being tested. “Bharat Biotech is aiming to vaccinate children of 2 to 18 years. It has already started ...a number of children have been already vaccinated,” said Dr. Randeep Guleria, AIIMS Chief.
He further said that “over the next 2 to 3 months we should be able to say whether these vaccines work in children even as young as two years old. If yes, then they should get regulatory approval. Pfizer has already got the regulatory approval but for a little older age group.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Guleria told that a considerable number of children who participated in trials already had covid antibodies. This improves the chances that children are quite safe from the next wave of coronavirus. The data collected suggests that the mortality rate in the elderly and those with co-morbidities is higher as compared to children.
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"If you analyze vaccine recruitment data and some data published by us as part of the trial, a significant number of children already had antibodies in them, although there was no evidence of infection," said AIIMS chief.
He further added, "Almost 50-60 percent of children who came to participate in trials couldn't be recruited because they had antibodies...What this suggests is that they have a good amount of immunity. This anticipation that 'the next wave may affect them' may not be correct."
Talking to NDTV, Dr. Guleria also showed concern over the delta plus variant of the virus. The Delta Plus Variant has now become the variant of concern as the number of cases is increasing. However, the research over the severity of virus, mortality and effect on antibodies is still a work in progress.
Meanwhile, he also added that people should follow covid appropriate behavior in order to prevent third wave. “We shouldn’t be lagging behind in terms of actions we need to take in case this variant becomes more infectious and starts spreading,” Dr. Guleria concluded.