The screening of children for clinical trials of Covaxin will start at AIIMS in Delhi tomorrow, days after similar trials started at AIIMS in Patna, sources have said. The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in the national capital will conduct clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Bharat Biotech to see if it is suitable for children between two and 18 years old.
Experts have warned that a possible third wave can bring as much devastation as the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic if enough people are not vaccinated against the virus, and that children could be its prime target.
Meanwhile, the centre said today that 1.63 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and Union Territories to be administered.
The centre has so far provided, both through the free of cost and through direct state procurement categories, more than 24 crore vaccine doses (24,60,80,900) to states and UTs.
Of this, the total consumption, including wastages is 22,96,95,199 doses, the ministry said.
India added 1.14 lakh new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours while deaths from COVID-19 rose by 2,667.The country's overall case load now stands at 2.88 crore, while total fatalities are at 3.46 lakh, according to the health ministry.
