KANPUR: The trial for administering Covaxin to children in the age group of two-six years commenced in the city on Wednesday.
Covaxin trial on children of 2 to 18 years old is under process at seven locations across the country, including AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Patna and a private hospital in Kanpur.
The process has been expedited considering threat of third Covid wave striking early.
Kanpur is the only centre in the state where Covaxin trial on children is being done.
Last year, before the launch of the vaccination drive, the trials of Covaxin on adults were also done in the Industrial city along with other centres.
“Three boys and two girls, of 2 to 6 years age group were administered Covaxin today.
We have already done trial of the vaccine on 20 children each in the age category of 6 to 12 and 12 to 18.
Now, trials of Covaxin are being done on the third age category of children.
So far, Covaxin has been administered to 45 children of the three age categories.
We have to do trials on five more children after which this exercise will conclude and we shall provide the results to Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR) for evaluation and study,” said chief guide for Covaxin trial in Prakhar hospital of the city Dr JS Kushwaha.
Dr Kushwaha said that Kanpur was the only centre in the state where Covaxin trial is being held.
He said that last year also, Covaxin trials were carried here.
After the trials remained successful, Covaxin became the second authorised vaccine for use.
It is also the country’s first indigenously developed vaccine against Covid.
Now people across the country are being vaccinated with Covaxin, said Dr Kushwaha.
Children who were administered Covaxin on Wednesday were accompanied by their parents.
They brought their children to Prakhar hospital.
First the tiny tots wept on coming to know that they would be vaccinated but their parents convinced them after which the entire exercise could be undertaken.