Mumbai: After the Dussehra holiday, Covid vaccination increased on Saturday with 75,741 people get Jab in Mumbai, but clinical trials for pediatric vaccines struggling to find the takers.
The court for the Covovax vaccine, which began last week at the Nair Hospital managed by BMC so far seen only six children.
“This trial requires 914 children again,” said a doctor from the hospital.
The trial will include children in the 2-17 age group in three groups – the first group will see children between 2-7 years, the next in the bracket aged 8-11, and the third at the age of 12-17.
Clinical trials held earlier for Zydus Cadila-based covid vaccine, in the same hospital also found very little takeover.
“We need 25 children for the trial, but only 12 registered,” said Nair Dean Hospital Dr.
Ramesh Bharmal.
Covovax, which will also be produced by the Institute of India-based Serum Pune, has shown this vaccine has 90% efficacy in other trials.
Every child listed in the trial will be given two shots, 21 separate days.
“The level of their antibodies will be studied several times, starting with the first day of vaccination, then on the 22nd day, 36 and 180,” said Dr.
Bharmal.
The reason for poor purification, he said, is a high level of exposure among children to the SARS-COV-2 virus in the city.
Previous sero surveys among children in the city have shown 50% of them have antibodies against viruses.
“Because this trial is only intended for children who do not have covid antibodies, we have to turn children who test positive antibodies,” Dean said.