Amid rising COVID cases in the country, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday granted restricted emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech's vaccine -- Covaxin -- for kids aged between 6 and 12 years.
The approval came following recommendations from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
The company has been directed to submit safety data with due analysis every 15 days for the first two months, and monthly thereafter for five months.
The DGCI also approved emergency use authorisation for Biological E’s Corbevax for children in the age group 5-12 years.
Apart from this, Zydus Cadila's ZycovD has also been approved for children aged above 12 years for a two-dose regimen.
Federal Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya shared the information on Twitter.
In a tweet in Hindi, he said: “India’s fight against COVID has become stronger with the recent approvals”.
Federal Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Confirms Granting Emergency Use Authorisation to Covaxin for Children in Age Group of 6-12 Years
© Photo : Twitter/@mansukhmandaviya
India began administering vaccines against COVID-19 to adolescents in the age group 15-18 years on 3 January this year. Last month, children aged 12-14 years were also included in the vaccination drive.
Currently, Biological E's Corbevax is being used to inoculate children against COVID-19 in the age group of 12 to 14 years, and Covaxin is being administered to children in the age group 15-18 years.