Second vaccine for children: Covaxin trial continues, AIIMS director said - Pfizer vaccine can also be given to children

Trials of Covaxin are ongoing on children aged 2 to 18 years. Meanwhile, the hopes of getting another vaccine for children soon have increased. AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria has said that American company Pfizer's vaccine can also be administered to children.

Guleria said in an interview to CNN-News 18 that this is not the first time that India has given a green signal to a vaccine without a trial. The Center has already approved such vaccines, which have been approved for emergency use by America, Britain, Europe, WHO. In such a situation, we think that soon there will be another vaccine for adults and children in India. Pfizer vaccine is coming to India soon.

Update

Britain has approved Pfizer's vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 years. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved it on Friday. The agency said that Pfizer's vaccine is safe and effective.

Earlier there was no data of Pfizer, now it is there: Guleria

Guleria said that the initial delay in bringing vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna to India was because there was no data about the vaccine. He said that now we have data about how safe this vaccine is. Earlier there were reports of its side effects in Europe. Vaccination data is now available in the US and UK. When our committee came to know that it would be safe to use in India, then approval was given to bring it.

Trial of the indigenous vaccine on children continues

Bharat Biotech's Covaxin trial is underway for children aged 2 to 18 years. This vaccine is being trialed on 525 health volunteers. These volunteers will be given the second dose 28 days after the first dose. Covaxin will be used during the trial. However, a petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court to stop this trial. It said that the trial of Covaxin on children would be like genocide.

What is the current situation with Moderna and Pfizer?

Moderna and Pfizer are among the companies that appealed to the Indian government to do away with the obligation to conduct local trials after allowing damages and emergency use.