Vaccination for children will start by September with the Zydus vaccine for 12 to 18-year-olds in India. Here’s what the panel has concluded so far.
“Covaxin phase 3 trials have started and by the end of September, I think we should be there to start vaccination. I think sometime in the third quarter or by early January-February we should be able to give it to 2 to 18-year-olds,” said Dr. NK Arora, the head of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration. “But trial data for Zydus Cadila for 12 to 18-year-olds will be available even before that. He said, the issue of school opening and other things are very important and those are under discussion.
Additionally, according to the head of the national expert group on vaccine administration, the government is currently focusing on vaccinating as many people as possible. Experts believe that children might be highly impacted by the third wave. Hence, vaccinating children is of the highest priority.
Everything we know about the Zydus Cadila vaccine
ZyCoV-D is a brand new vaccine, developed by the Indian pharmaceutical Zydus Cadila. Clinical trials are in progress. However, the data for the age group of 12 to 18-year-olds will be out soon. The development comes at a crucial stage when India is expecting a third wave which may focus on children. “Advised that Zydus Cadila which is developing DNA vaccines has concluded its clinical trial for between the age group of 12 to 18 years of age and subject to the statutory permissions, the same may be available in near future for children in the age group of 12 to 18 years of age,” said the center to the apex court on June 26.
The Zydus Cadila vaccine displays robust tolerability and immunogenicity. Additionally, its safety profile shows to be adaptive in the first and second phases of clinical trials. The third phase of clinical trials, monitored by an independent board monitoring data safety.
