In a significant step to vaccinate children Zydus Cadila COVID-19 vaccine for the age group of 12-18 years is expected to be available by September end said Dr. NK Arora, Chairperson of the COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) in an interview with a leading new channel.
Dr Arora said that Zydus Cadila’s data for 12-18 year-olds will be available by next month or early September and that we will certainly be able to give it.
The NTAGI chairman said the clinical trials of the indigenous vaccine have begun and the data may be submitted by end of September and the vaccine is likely to be administered in early January-February of 2022.
“Covaxin phase 3 trials have started and by the end of September, I think we should be there…I think sometime in the third quarter or early January-February we should be ready that our children in the age group of 2 to 18 be getting. But prior to that, data of Zudus Cadila will be available next month or by early September, and that we will be certainly able to give (administer) it because the issue of school opening is very important issue that are been discussed very actively†he said to the TV channel.
Earlier central government had informed the Supreme Court that Zydus Cadila vaccines have concluded clinical trial for the age group of 12-18 years. “Zydus Cadila which is developing DNA vaccines has concluded its clinical trial for between the age group of 12 to 18 years and subject to the statutory permissions, the same may be available in near future for children of the age group of 12 to 18 years of age”, the Centre said in its affidavit.
