Covid-19 vaccine: Expert body approves Covaxin for emergency use in children aged 6-12 years
Highlights
- India began inoculating children aged 12-14 on March 16
- Countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year
- Precaution doses to all aged above 18 yrs were allowed at private vaccination centres from April 10
Vaccine for Kids: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday approved three Covid vaccines for the restricted emergency use authorisation (EUA) for children of different age groups.
The DCGI gave the restricted emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for children between the age of 6-12 years.
In another development, the drug regulator approved restricted use in emergency situation for Biological E's Covid-19 vaccine Corbevax for children of 5 to 12 years age group.
Also Read | India logs 2,483 new COVID infections, 1,399 deaths; active cases decline to 15,636
Besides Corbevax and Covaxin, the DCGI also approved restricted use iA emergency situation to ZycovD (Zydus Cadila vaccine) for children above the age of 12 years for a two-dose regimen.
"India's fight against Covid more stronger! @CDSCO_INDIA_INF has approved Covaxin for 6 to 12 years of age group, Corbevax for 5 to 12 years age group of children and two doses ZyCoV-D for above 12 years of age group for Restricted Use in Emergency Situations," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted in Hindi.
This development comes after the Subject Expert Committee discussed recommendations for the restricted emergency use of Covaxin in children aged between 2-12 years. However, the SEC, after a meeting on Thursday, has recommended restricted emergency use of Biological E's Covid-19 vaccine, Corbevax, in children aged 5-12 years.
Also Read | Govt panel recommends Corbevax for emergency use in children aged 5-11
