Covovax: PGI yet to complete vax trial for age group 2 to 6

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

The PGI, one of the trial sites for Covovax, a vaccine for the younger population, is yet to complete the trial for children aged two to six.

“The vaccine trial is still going on. We have completed the seven to 17 age bracket, but the target for the two to six age group is yet to be achieved. Parents of healthy children, aged two to six, who want their children to participate in the study, are requested to send the registration form by visiting the PGI website,” Dr Madhu Gupta, principal investigator for Covovax trials among the younger age group, said.

“So far, we have vaccinated 32 children in the age group of two to 17 years and require 60-70 more candidates for the age group two to six. We are sensing hesitancy among patients of this age group. The children who were administered Covovax are safe and no side effects were encountered. The antibody response is not known yet,” added Dr Gupta.

The vaccine is sponsored by the Serum Institute of India and participation in this vaccine trial is purely on a voluntary basis. The multi-centre trial is aimed at checking the safety and immune response of (Covid-19 vaccine) Covovax in children, aged two to 17.

It is a phase 2/3, observer-blind, randomised, controlled study to determine the safety and immunogenicity of Covovax (SARS-CoV2 recombinant spike protein nanoparticle vaccine). The study vaccine is injected intramuscularly (into a muscle) in the deltoid or the anterolateral aspect of the thigh as two doses of 0.5 ml each on Day 1 and Day 22. The participants are observed closely for 30 minutes post-vaccination. The study objective in this cohort is to evaluate the safety of Covovax in comparison to Placebo; and immunogenicity of Covovax in children from two to 11 years of age in comparison to adult participants (adult participants in the reactogenicity and immunogenicity cohort from the Covovax group), separately.

No side effects

Dr Madhu Gupta, principal investigator, Covovax, says, “So far, we have vaccinated 32 children in the age group of two to 17 years and require 60-70 more candidates for the age group two to six. We are sensing hesitancy among patients of this age group. The children who were administered Covovax are safe and no side effects were encountered. The antibody response is not known yet.”

Covid care centre opened in Sec 26

Chandigarh: A mini-Covid care centre with a 52-bed capacity and L-2 facilities, set up at the police hospital in Sector 26, was inaugurated by UT DGP Praveer Ranjan. Sri Sathya Sai Gramin Jagriti has set up the centre that provides all facilities free of cost. The centre has 52 oxygen beds and a team of 28 doctors and medical staff to look after patients round the clock. The organisation has also provided blankets, geysers and heaters at the centre. Besides, indoor game facilities have also been provided. TNS

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