NEW DELHI: Children may have to wait for some more time to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as the government will start immunisation for kids only after Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is approved for use which might take a few more weeks, a senior official told TOI.
The government is concerned that supplies of Zy-CoV-D — a three-dose vaccine given emergency use authorisation (EUA) for children between 12-17 years — may not be adequate to begin inoculating children. Covaxin, currently in use for adults, has already been recommended for use in children of 2-18 years. However, the final approval for EUA is pending with the DCGI. The regulator has been cautious in its approach as the vaccinations concern young children.
The official said data has been reviewed thoroughly now and DCGI approval for use of Covaxin in children is expected by end of November. “We will wait for Covaxin to be approved for used in children before opening up Covid immunisation programme.
ZyCoV-D supplies are limited and may not suffice to cover all children. Besides, it has been approved only for children above 12 years of age,” the official said. The government plans to initiate vaccination with children with certain health condition that make them more vulnerable to Covid.