“This (Covaxin) is the only vaccine with emergency use listing for the age-group 15-18,” the federal health ministry said on Monday
An expert committee of India’s drug regulator recommended emergency use authorisation for Merck’s COVID-19 pill molnupiravir, and Serum Institute of India’s Covovax and Biological E’s corbevax vaccines, according to a media report
New Delhi:
Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, will be the only shot available to children aged 15 to 18 when inoculation begins for them from Jan. 3, the Indian health ministry said in its guidelines released on Monday.
“This (Covaxin) is the only vaccine with emergency use listing for the age-group 15-18,” the federal health ministry said on Monday.
Meanwhile, an expert committee of India’s drug regulator recommended emergency use authorisation for Merck’s COVID-19 pill molnupiravir, and Serum Institute of India’s Covovax and Biological E’s corbevax vaccines, according to a media report.
The recommendations of the expert committee have been sent to the Drugs Controller General of India, which will soon decide on their approval, according to the report on Tuesday.
Data presented for Covovax, the Indian version of Novavax Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine, was satisfactory, the report said.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India’s regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
India is working on ramping up oxygen supplies and strengthening health infrastructure to contain a possible surge of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. read more
The country has administered 1.43 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses so far, with more than 839 million of all adults having received at least one dose.
Last week, the U.S. FDA issued an EUA to molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease in adults. read more
Earlier this year, drugmakers Aurobindo Pharma (ARBN.NS), Cipla (CIPL.NS), Sun Pharmaceuticals (SUN.NS) and some others signed non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements with Merck to manufacture and supply molnupiravir in India.
COVID-19 infections are decreasing in India, with 6,642 new cases reported on average each day. That represents 2% of the highest daily average reported on May 9. There have been 34.8 million infections and nearly 480,000 deaths coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.
However, India has reported a swift rise in Omicron cases, with the number of overall infections crossing 400 across 17 Indian states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has been accelerating its vaccination campaign, administering at least one dose to 90% of the eligible 944 million population, while 62% have taken both doses.
As millions still await second shots, the authorities will now start offering booster shots to healthcare and frontline workers, who suffered from an overwhelming second-wave of the virus in the summer that killed tens of thousands.
Medical experts have said India needs to double down on its vaccination campaign and expand coverage to avert another possible surge in infections particularly in the vast hinterlands where healthcare facilities are sparse.
Modi has urged citizens to continue to wear facemasks and follow other COVID-19 protocols.
The federal government has also urged states to impose curbs on overcrowding in the festive season until the new year and a few states have partially banned public celebrations.