NTAGI Approves SII's Covovax Covid-19 Vaccine For Children Between 12-17 Age Group: Report

Covovax was licenced by India's pharma authority for restricted use in emergency cases in adults on December 28 of last year, and in the 12-17 age range, subject to specific restrictions, on March 9. 

New Delhi: The government body National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) approved the Serum Institute of India's Covovax COVID-19 vaccine for the age group 12-17 on Friday, according to the sources, news agency ANI reported.

Covovax was licenced by India's pharma authority for restricted use in emergency cases in adults on December 28 of last year, and in the 12-17 age range, subject to specific restrictions, on March 9. 

However, no decision has been taken by NTAGI on vaccinating children between the age group of 5-12 years against covid-19, sources said on Friday.

"The COVID-19 working group of the NTAGI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) had earlier reviewed data related to Covovax and okayed it. The NTAGI's Standing Technical Sub-Committee which met on Friday has recommended that the vaccine can be used for 12-17 years age group," an official source was quoted by PTI in its report.

Prakash Kumar Singh, Director for Government and Regulatory Affairs at the Serum Institute of India (SII), recently wrote to the Union Health Ministry, seeking that Covovax is included in the vaccination drive for those aged 12 and above.

Singh added that the Pune-based company wants to provide Covovax to private hospitals for Rs 900 per dosage plus GST and was awaiting instructions to do so. The price of the vaccination for the government, however, was not mentioned.

From March 16, the country began vaccinating youngsters aged 12 to 14.

Earlier on Thursday, the Centre said that a decision on child vaccination will be made based on NTAGI's proposal on Friday. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the government's objective is to have all eligible youngsters vaccinated as soon as possible through "special campaigns" in schools.

The DCGI, India's pharmaceuticals authority, authorised three COVID-19 vaccinations for restricted emergency use authorization (EUA) for children of various ages on Tuesday. The DCGI authorised ZyCov-D for children aged 12 and over, Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN for children aged 6 to 12, and Biological E's Corbevax for children aged 5 to 12.

(With Agencies Inputs)