Vaccine For Children: Covaxin May Be Approved By Sept, Says AIIMS Chief

New Delhi: As the threat of a third wave of COVID-19 looms, India is eagerly awaiting a vaccine for children. Especially as some experts fear that children could be more affected by an almost ‘inevitable’ third wave.

According to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria, it may not be long before Covaxin — which is already being trialled among children aged between 2 and 17 at AIIMS Delhi and Patna — is approved for children.

“After the completion of the second and third phase of trials of Covaxin for children, the trial data would be made available by September and the vaccine itself is likely to be approved in the same month,” Dr Guleria told India Today.

He added that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could be another option for children to be vaccinated with if approved by India.

Dr Guleria reiterated that there is not sufficient data to suggest that children will be more impacted by a potential third wave.

“There is no reason to believe this theory,” Dr Guleria said, disagreeing with a clutch of experts.

A recent AIIMS-World Health Organization (WHO) study stated that the third wave “may not hit children disproportionately.”