PATNA: Registration for the children to participate in the second phase clinical trial of the Covid-19 vaccine was made open from Friday at AIIMS-Patna.
Around 80 children between the age group of two to 18 years will be selected for the trial, after their registration process and followed by a health examination.
The move came after the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) granted permission for the phase 2-3 clinical trial of Covaxin on children.
AIIMS-Patna has been selected as one of the sites for the trial along with other institutes such as AIIMS-Delhi and Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur.
AIIMS-Patna superintendent Dr CM Singh said they are targeting to include between 70 and 80 children in the trial phase that began with the registration of a 13-year-old Patna boy, on Friday.
However, all those who get registered will not be vaccinated.
He said hospitals will get the RT-PCR and antibody tests done and only those who are negative or have not tested positive earlier will be allowed.
The nodal incharge for Covid-19 at AIIMS-Patna, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, said after the two tests, paediatricians will check the health of children and those who deem fit will be allowed.
Doctors at AIIMS-Patna urged parents to let their children participate.
Those interested in registration can get it done by going to the hospital.
Rs 1,000 will be given to them as a travelling allowance.
“Coavaxin is already being administered and it is safe.
The Sooner the trial gets completed, the better it is for everyone,” said Dr Singh.
The stress on vaccine trial for children is keeping in mind the predicted third wave in which several health experts have said children might be the worst sufferers.
Even in the second wave, a large number of children got infected, compared to the previous one and data from the health department stated around 4,50,00 children and adolescents were infected in two months when the Covid-19 was at its peak in Bihar.