New Delhi India’s Drug Controller’s Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Thursday recommended emergency use authorization (EUA) for biological E K Corbevax in children aged 5-11 years, people familiar with the matter told Mint.
The decision comes at a time when more children are getting affected by the COVID infection as children are attending schools and they are more vulnerable to the infection.
CORBEVAX is a “recombinant protein sub-unit” vaccine developed from a component of the spike protein on the surface of the virus, which helps the body build an immune response against the virus.
Currently, Corbevax is only approved for the vaccination of children 12-14 years of age. So far more than 2.53 crore children in the age group of 12-14 years have been vaccinated with the first dose of Corbevax vaccine.
A spokesperson for Biologicals did not immediately respond to questions sent by Mint on Thursday evening.
“The matter was recently raised in the SEC meeting. After detailed deliberations, it was recommended to grant emergency use authorization for children in the age group of 5-11 years,” said the person above.
“Another matter discussed was Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for use in children aged 2-11 years. However, the SEC was not satisfied with the data presented to them. Hence, the expert panel has sought more data,” the person said.
DCGI has approved Corbevax as a COVID-19 Vaccine for Children (12-14 Years) for Emergency Use Authorization as a COVID-19 Vaccine and is available for consumption in India only.
Earlier, DCGI has approved Covovax’s Serum Institute of India for restricted use in emergency situations for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, under certain conditions.
Dr Sanjeev Bagai, a renowned Pediatrician said: “We are seeing a lot of children getting infected with COVID. Its symptoms are severe headache, cough, cold and fever. Children are being affected because they are still vulnerable and not exposed to the virus. Children under the age of 12 are not in vaccination coverage. Now, when they have started going to school, they are exposed and the schools are also not following proper ventilation.”
Vaccination is playing an important role as a protective shield in the fight against COVID. India launched its world’s largest COVID vaccination campaign in a phased manner on 16 January 2020. Till date, the country has given more than 187.07 crore vaccine doses to the eligible beneficiaries.
The first dose of COVID-19 vaccine has been given to 2.53 crore children in the age group of 12-14 years. Similarly, 2.3 lakh persons in the age group of 18-59 years have received a booster shot or a precautionary dose.
The central government has provided more than 192.27 crore vaccine doses to the states/UTs, while 20.16 crore vaccine doses are in balance and unused vaccines are still available with the state government.