Nagpur: The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) Of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday approved Covaxin Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 2 to 18 years. More than 70 lakh children in the age group of 2 to 18 will now be eligible to take the Covid-19 jab in Vidarbha.
In Nagpur district, almost 11 lakh children are eligible for the vaccination programme. The Covaxin trial was underway in four centres across the country—AIIMS Noida, AIIMS Patna, Niloufer hospital Hyderabad and Meditrina Hospital in Nagpur.
Senior Pediatrician and principal investigator for Covaxin trials Dr Vasant Khalatkar said that the trials held in Nagpur showed ‘astonishing results’ in kids. Khalatkar added that it was a pleasant surprise for him that Covaxin received emergency use authorisation by the DCGI.
“Vaccines safety has been proved already, the efficacy results are also promising,” Khalatkar said in a statement.
According to the experts, the Covid-19 vaccination for children will be a turning point and could also lower the possibilities of a third wave of the novel coronavirus in the country.
Covaxin which is being administered to the adults will be administered to the children as well. Schools have opened up across the country, yet many parents are hesitant to send their children to schools fearing Covid-19.
