India Approves First COVID Vaccine for 2-18 Years Age Group

The Subject Expert Committee on COVID-19 has given emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children in the 2-18 years age group. The Hyderabad-based Vaccine manufacturer has completed Phase-2 and Phase-3 trials of Covaxin on children below 18 years of age in September.

The Trial data has been submitted to the Drugs and Comptroller General of India (DCGI) in the first week of October. And has got its emergency approval now. Previously, Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D had received approved approval for all individuals aged 12 and above.

Covaxin, however, is the first vaccine for the 2-10 years group. It is not yet known when the vaccine will be administered and how. Also, we are yet to know if Government will administer the vaccine for children for free like how it is giving it for free for the 18+ age group.

Meanwhile, Covaxin is yet to get the emergency use authorization from the WHO. Only after that authorization, passengers with Covaxin can fly into other countries.