AIIMS Delhi to start booster dose trial of intranasal COVID vaccine from today

The booster dose will be given to those who have received both the doses of either Covaxin or Covishield at least five months ago, but not more than seven months back

The AIIMS will start the booster dose trial of Bharat Biotech’s intranasal COVID-19 vaccine from today.

The booster dose will be given to those who have received both the doses of either Covaxin or Covishield at least five months ago, but not more than seven months back, Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor, Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, told PTI.

India is yet to approve the use of intranasal vaccine against COVID-19, BBV154 developed by the Hyderabad-based company.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in January had given permission to Bharat Biotech to conduct phase-III randomised, multi-centric study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the booster dose in participants previously vaccinated with Covishield or Covaxin.

AIIMS, New Delhi is one among the five sites where the booster trial for the nasal vaccine will be conducted.