Covaxin becomes the first COVID-19 vaccine that can be administered to children in India.

The Committee of Experts on Covid19 Matters granted Covaxin from Bharat Biotech an emergency permit for children aged 2-18 years. The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had completed Phase-2 and Phase-3 trials of Covaxin on children below 18 years of age had submitted the Data to the Comptroller General of Drugs and India (DCGI) earlier this month.

Covaxin becomes the primary COVID-19 vaccine which will be administered to children in India.

Covaxin has been approved for adults for over a year, separate studies were needed to ensure the vaccine was safe for children as well. In phase 2-3 , 525 children received two doses of the vaccine, 28 days apart.

Two doses of Covaxin are likely to be given to children with an interval of 28 days. For adults, the government has set an interval of 46 weeks between the two shots. This is the second COVID19 vaccine to be approved for children in India. The drug regulator had previously approved ZyCoVD for children 12 years of age and older and for adults. However, the launch has not yet started.