Vaccination Of Children & Adolescents To Be Based On ‘Scientific Rationale’, ‘Supply Situation’: Covid Task Force Chief

Paul also cautioned it will not be fair now to say that the worst is over since many countries have seen more than two waves.

New Delhi: Covid Task Force chief V.K. Paul on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government will take a final decision on vaccinating the children and adolescents against coronavirus on the basis of overall scientific rationale as well as the supply situation of vaccines available for those below 18 years.

“We do know that several countries have introduced vaccination for adolescents and children. We will take a final decision based on the overall scientific rationale and the supply situation of the child licenced vaccines, going forward,” he told PTI in an interview.

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Paul also cautioned it will not be fair now to say that the worst is over since many countries have seen more than two waves.

“It is reassuring that the number of Covid cases are now on the decline and the second wave is now subsiding but to say that the worst is over will not be fair because we have seen in other nations, there have been more than two waves,” he said.

Paul cautioned the country is passing through a phase when there are festivals and potential gatherings.

Paul, who has been playing a key role in the government's efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, said this is a critical phase as the virus can spread again.

“We have seen that even in other countries where vaccine coverage is good, the escalation in the pandemic can happen and has happened,” said Paul.

“Therefore, certainly we should not assume that this situation of the declining trend will continue and definitely we should not think that the worst is over, we have to be ever watchful,” he added.

Underlining that the vaccination programme has picked up huge speed, the Covid Task Force chief said that states, which are for whatever reasons lagging behind must work hard and must push vaccination.

“Now, of course, there is no dearth, no inadequacy of vaccine supply. They are as of today 10 crore doses of vaccines with the state governments for the vaccination programme,” Paul said, adding the states must ensure that they reach out to those who are left out in the vaccination programme.

Three Covid-19 vaccines, including Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V, are currently being administered in the country for those above 18 years of age. All of them are two-dose vaccines.

Zydus Cadila’s indigenously developed needle-free vaccine ZyCoV-D, which has received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA), is set to become the first vaccine that will be available in India for those in the age group of 12-18 years.

“The preparation for incorporation of Zydus Cadila's vaccine into the vaccination programme is proceeding well, training is already being held. NTAGI advice for the best use of the vaccine is explored. So soon, this will be rolled out,” Paul said.

An expert panel of the country’s central drug authority has recommended granting EUA to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for the children and adolescents in the 2-18 years age group with certain conditions.

Covaxin, if approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), will be the second vaccine after ZyCoV-D to get EUA for use among those below 18 years.

The Covid Task Force chief said Covaxin is a part of the adult vaccination programme and how to provision the vaccine, if at all for children, has to be also examined in the totality of the requirements of the vaccination programme.

“A pragmatic decision (on vaccination of children and adolescents) can be taken (only) by balancing the supply and the potential eligibility,” he said.