<p>The first Indian trial of a homegrown Covid-19 vaccine on children is set to start in the next 10-12 days, a top health official said on Tuesday, amidst a global concern that the next wave of the pandemic may hit them in a big way.</p>.<p>"The Covaxin trial on children would start in the next 10-12 days,” V K Paul, NITI Aayog member and chairman of the government task force on Covid-19 said here on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Last week, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) accorded permission to Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech to conduct the phase II/III clinical trial of Covaxin on 525 healthy volunteers in the age group two to 18 years.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/bharat-biotechs-covaxin-gets-dcgi-nod-for-phase-2-3-trials-for-2-18-year-olds-985356.html" target="_blank">Bharat Biotech's Covaxin gets DCGI nod for phase 2, 3 trials for 2-18-year-olds</a></strong></p>.<p>During the trial, the vaccine will be given by intramuscular route in two doses at a gap of 28 days after which they would be kept under observation to see how many of them develop infections.</p>.<p>The last ICMR sero-survey carried out in December showed a similar level of sero-positivity in adults and children. The sero-positivity was 21.4 per cent among adults, more than 18 years of age, whereas in children aged 10-17 years, the sero-positivity was 25.3 per cent.</p>.<p>While most of the Covid-19 affected children are asymptomatic, Paul said the children should be encouraged to wear masks and follow the social distancing norms just like the adults.</p>.<p>On Saturday, the USA's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all those 12 years and older should get a Covid-19 vaccination to help protect against the infection as widespread vaccination was a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. The CDC recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was shown to protect children from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.</p>.<p>Paul also pointed out that the government was keeping a close watch on cases where people develop serious Covid-19 disease even after taking two doses of the vaccines.</p>
<p>The first Indian trial of a homegrown Covid-19 vaccine on children is set to start in the next 10-12 days, a top health official said on Tuesday, amidst a global concern that the next wave of the pandemic may hit them in a big way.</p>.<p>"The Covaxin trial on children would start in the next 10-12 days,” V K Paul, NITI Aayog member and chairman of the government task force on Covid-19 said here on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Last week, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) accorded permission to Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech to conduct the phase II/III clinical trial of Covaxin on 525 healthy volunteers in the age group two to 18 years.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/bharat-biotechs-covaxin-gets-dcgi-nod-for-phase-2-3-trials-for-2-18-year-olds-985356.html" target="_blank">Bharat Biotech's Covaxin gets DCGI nod for phase 2, 3 trials for 2-18-year-olds</a></strong></p>.<p>During the trial, the vaccine will be given by intramuscular route in two doses at a gap of 28 days after which they would be kept under observation to see how many of them develop infections.</p>.<p>The last ICMR sero-survey carried out in December showed a similar level of sero-positivity in adults and children. The sero-positivity was 21.4 per cent among adults, more than 18 years of age, whereas in children aged 10-17 years, the sero-positivity was 25.3 per cent.</p>.<p>While most of the Covid-19 affected children are asymptomatic, Paul said the children should be encouraged to wear masks and follow the social distancing norms just like the adults.</p>.<p>On Saturday, the USA's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all those 12 years and older should get a Covid-19 vaccination to help protect against the infection as widespread vaccination was a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. The CDC recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was shown to protect children from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.</p>.<p>Paul also pointed out that the government was keeping a close watch on cases where people develop serious Covid-19 disease even after taking two doses of the vaccines.</p>
