New Delhi: Several vaccine manufacturers are currently focussed on COVID-19 vaccine for children. India, especially, is eagerly awaiting a jab for kids ideally before a possible third wave of coronavirus hits the country.
Covaxin for children may be approved by September, while trials for Pfizer and Covavax COVID jabs for kids have started.
The good news is that Zydus Cadila may beat the others to the magic vaccine for children.
According to National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) chairman Dr NK Arora, India’s leading global pharmaceutical company has developed a vaccine for children above 12, which could be available as early as August.
The trials for Zydus Cadila vaccine candidate are likely to be completed by July-end.
“The trials will almost be complete till July-end. We will be able to vaccinate children aged between 12-18 years in August,” Dr Arora said on Sunday.
According to reports, Zydus Cadila is likely to apply for approval within next week.
“When Zydus comes for licensure, hopefully in the next two weeks, maybe we have enough data to take a view on whether the vaccine can be given to children,” NITI Aayog member (Health) VK Paul had said a few days earlier.
Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D will be the first DNA vaccine in the world. It will be a three-dose vaccine, according to PTI.
Till date, India has granted emergency use approval to Serum Institute of India-manufactured Covishield (developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca), Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Russia’s Sputnik V.
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