The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) has given approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for Phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials on children aged 2-18 years old, sources confirmed on Wednesday. Covaxin is one of the two vaccines being manufactured in India at present and has been developed by Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology. The firm on Tuesday informed that it has been supplying its COVID-19 vaccine directly to 18 states since May 1.
Meanwhile, the company tweeted, "Unflinching in our efforts, we will continue the steady supply of our vaccine." Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam are among the 18 states where the company has been supplying the vaccines directly. Following the Government of India directives, the Hyderabad-based vaccine maker had earlier announced that it will provide Covaxin to state government hospitals at the rate of Rs 400 per dose.
India reported 3,48,421 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative count of the cases to 2,33,40,938, the Union Health Ministry reported on Wednesday. With 4205 people succumbing to the infection in the last 24 hours, the death toll has mounted to 2,54,197. Currently, there are 37,04,099 active cases of COVID-19 in the country.
The country also witnessed as many as 3,55,338 recoveries in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative recoveries to 1,93,82,642. According to the ICMR, as many as 30,75,83,991 samples tested for COVID-19 up to May 11. Of these 19,83,804 samples tested on Tuesday. The total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered stand at over 17,52,35,991 crore, informed the health ministry.