Bharat Biotech, the maker of coronavirus disease vaccine Covaxin, is expected to start paediatric trials from June, the company's Business Development and International Advocacy Head Dr Raches Ella informed on Sunday.
Dr. Raches Ella informed about the possible commencement of paediatric trials of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin from June. Dr. Ella was talking at a virtual conference with members of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) Hyderabad. The company is also expecting approval from World Health Organization (WHO) for Covaxin by the end of the third or fourth quarter, further informed by Dr. Ella.
Dr. Raches Ella responded to a question by mentioning that the company is also planning on ramping up the manufacturing capacity to 700 million doses by the end of this year. Co-developed with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Bharat Biotech executive added that Covaxin's advance purchase order of Rs 1,500 crores has already been put by the Government of India.
Meanwhile, on Covid-19 prevalence among children, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul said on Saturday said that seropositivity rate between 10-17 years is roughly the same as between 30-40 and children can also spread the infection.
"Whenever children contracted the infection then almost always symptoms are minimal, very mild disease or they are asymptomatic and because it is mild the mortality is very very less in them," he said.
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