Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN gets go-ahead for children above 2 years of age
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the use of Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine — Covaxin — for children above the age of 2 years, the official sources said on Tuesday.
Earlier, Zydus Cadila's ZyCoV-D had received approval for all individuals aged 12 and above becoming the first jab to cater to younger children. It is developed by pharmaceutical firm Zydus Cadila and is the first DNA vaccine to be approved in the world.
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However, India's indigenous Covid-19 vaccine — Bharat Biotech's Covaxin — is yet to secure approval from the World Health Organisation.
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Bharat Biotech had submitted documents required for the listing by July 9. The WHO review process, which takes over six weeks, had commenced by July-end.
Meanwhile, India's Subject Expert Committee on Covid-19 has granted emergency usage approval to the Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, for children above the age of 2 years.
Reportedly, the first group examined included those between the age of 12 -18 years, the second group included 6- 12 years and the third age group was between 2-6 years.
The made-in-India vaccine is being administered in two doses, with a gap of at least 20 days between the first and second dose.
-PTC News
