According to sources, the next phase of the vaccination drive will have Bharat Biotech’s vaccine for COVID-19, Covaxin, administered on children. Moreover, this will be initiated from Nagpur.
The homegrown government-backed vaccine Covaxin has been developed by Bharat Biotech, a 24-year-old vaccine maker, which has a portfolio of 16 vaccines and exports to 123 countries. However, for parents concerned about sending their kids back to school, this development comes as pleasant news. The state government is expected to initiate the vaccination drive for the pediatric population from February end or from the first week of March.
Meanwhile, as per reports, a children’s hospital has been selected as one of the sites for the trial to be conducted on the kids. The age group is reported to range from two to eighteen years. However, back in January, Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella had stated that the vaccine for children will be ready in the next four months.
Earlier on January 3, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr VG Somani announced that the vaccines of Serum Institue of India, Covishield, and Bharat Biotech, Covaxin, have been granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation.
On the other hand, the city of Mumbai has started administering the trial of a third vaccine, Sputnik V, after administering Covishield and Covaxin for the coronavirus. Moreover, according to reports, 144 volunteers have taken the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine in the month of January. Back in the month of November 2020, Mumbai’s hospitals participated in the second phase of the trial. In addition, 18 volunteers had registered themselves for the trial. Out of this, six of them were doctors. Following which, in January, the third phase was initiated at the hospital.
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