Centre’s Expert Groups Considering Scientific Evidence On COVID Vaccination Of Children: MoS Health

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has also stated that a decision on booster dose and COVID jabs for children will be taken on the basis of scientific guidance from experts.

Representative Photo

New Delhi: Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar on Friday informed Lok Sabha that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation are considering scientific evidence related to vaccination of children between the age group of 12 to 17 years.

In a written reply, the Union MoS stated that no proposal is pending related to import of COVID vaccine for use among children and adolescents at present, news agency PTI reported.

The National Expert Group on vaccine administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) are mandated to take decisions related to offshore COVID-19 vaccines, she said.

When asked if the Union government has laid a roadmap to administer the COVID vaccines in children between the age group 12 to 18, MoS Bharati Pawar replied: “The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization are deliberating and considering scientific evidences related to vaccination of children between the age group 12 to 17 years”.

On whether any COVID vaccine for children is likely to be developed indigenously, it was stated that as of now, Cadila Healthcare’s ZyCoV-D vaccine has received the approval for restricted use in emergency setting by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the age group of 12 years and above based on the interim clinical data of phase 3 clinical trial conducted in the country.

Bharat Biotech is conducting phase 2/3 clinical trial of Covaxin on healthy volunteers aged 2 to 18 years and the firm has submitted interim safety and immunogenicity data to the national regulator DCGI, the MoS Health informed, as reported by PTI.

She added that Serum institute of India (SII) is also conducting phase 2/3 clinical trial of Nanoparticle Vaccine (liquid) (Covovax) in 920 subjects in the 2 to 17 years age group.

Besides this, Johnson and Johnson Pvt Ltd is conducting phase 2/3 clinical trial of Ad.26COV.2S vaccine in the age group of 12-17 years -- global clinical trial wherein India is one of the clinical trial sites.

“The approval of aforementioned COVID-19 vaccines will be dependent on the successful completion of clinical trials and submission of requisite data as per the requirements of the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940,” Bharti Pawar mentioned in the written reply.

According to the Registrar General of India (RGI) estimates, there are 14,52,14,000 children in the 12-17 years age group in India.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has also stated that a decision on booster dose and COVID jabs for children will be taken on the basis of scientific guidance from experts.

The statement comes as India steps up surveillance and preparation in wake of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus.

(With Agency Inputs)