As India’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive begins, an AIIMS professor claims that the latest trials show that the safety and immunogenicity of India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine—Covaxin—are nearly the same in children as in adults over the age of 18.
Dr Sanjay K Rai, a professor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ (AIIMS) Centre for Community Medicine, told ANI, “Covaxin was tested on three different age groups. The first age group examined was between the ages of 12 and 18 years, the second between the ages of 6 and 12 years, and the third between the ages of 2 and 6 years.”
Notably, Dr Rai served as the primary investigator for the COVAXIN trials on children.
“We began by completing the examination of people aged 12 to 18 years old, and then moved on to other age groups. The vaccine safety and immunogenicity of Covaxin are nearly identical. The final results of these trials, however, are still awaited. We had already conducted adult population trials. We are waiting for the results for the children “The doctor stated.
Dr. Rai stated that SARS-CoV-2 is not fatal in children around the world.
“There is only a minor infection present. It is milder than the common cold in a few children. We don’t know which of Zydus Cadila, Bharat Biotech, Pfizer, or Moderna is the mildest at the moment. These vaccines lessen the severity of the infection but not the infection itself “He stated.
Meanwhile, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has surpassed 95 crores, with 46,57,679 doses administered in the last 25 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday.
According to the ministry’s preliminary reports issued at 7 a.m. today, India has administered 95,19,84,373 vaccines so far.
This was accomplished through 92,57,689 sessions.
In the last 24 hours, the country reported 18,132 new COVID-19 cases, the fewest in 215 days. (ANI)
