SII's Covovax Covid Vaccine Now Available For Children In India, Says CEO Adar Poonawalla

Adar took to his official Twitter handle and said Covovax, which has been developed by Novavax, "is now available for children in India".

Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla gestures during a press conference (Source: AFP)

New Delhi: Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla on Tuesday said India's Covid-19 vaccine Covovax is currently accessible for kids across the country.

Adar took to his official Twitter handle and said Covovax, which has been developed by Novavax, "is now available for children in India".

He further said, "This is the only vaccine manufactured in India that is also sold in Europe and has an efficacy of > (more than) 90%."

Covovax (@Novavax), is now available for children in India. This is the only vaccine manufactured in India that is also sold in Europe and has an efficacy of > 90%. This is in line with Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision of providing yet another vaccine to protect our children. pic.twitter.com/QUm7sZyOfi

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) May 3, 2022

This is in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vision of providing yet another vaccine to protect our children", Poonawalla said.

According to the official sources, the children could now get the dose of Covovax at private centres with a dose costing Rs 900 plus GST, in addition to the hospital service charge of Rs 150.

The move comes after the National Technical Advisory Group (NTAGI) recommended a dose of the anti-Covid vaccine to children in the age group of 12-17 years.

Studies on children aged 12 to 17 years suggest that Covovax is a more effective, safer vaccine with higher immunity. It has also been said about this vaccine is suitable for children of this age group.

Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at SII, had recently written to the Union Health Ministry, requesting to include Covovax in the vaccination campaign for children in the age group of 12-17 years. Now children in the age group of 12-17 years can get the Covovax vaccine at a private centre.