Covid Vaccine: Covovax may get approval for children of 7-11 years

An expert panel to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has recommended the use of Covovax, a vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), for emergency use to children aged 7 to 11 years. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) will review this recommendation before giving the final approval. According to sources, the Expert Committee deliberated on the matter and recommended for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in young children.

Covovax is the US flagship Novovax's protein vaccine, which already has DCGI approval for use in children 12-17 years of age as well as adults. The government has procured the biological-e vaccine Corbevax for the vaccination of adults. Bharat Biotech's Covaxin has also been approved for use in 12-17 year olds.

According to the Ministry of Health, India's total vaccination coverage has exceeded 196.94 crore (1,96,94,40,932), out of which more than 3.62 crore first doses have been administered to children in the age group of 12-14 years.

The National Drugs Controller approved vaccination for children under 5 years of age on 26 April, following which the Biological-E vaccine Corbevax began to be administered to children. According to reports, 51.7 million doses of CORBEVAX have been given to children across the country.