Covid vaccination for children in India will begin by September with Zydus Cadila shots for the group between 13 to 8 years, said Dr Arora, who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration.
In an interview with NDTV, Dr Arora informed that the emergency authorization for the Zydus vaccine will come within weeks, adding that it will be followed by Covaxin by Bharat Biotech.
"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 by early January-February we should be able to give it to 2 to 18-year-olds," said Dr Arora. The trial data for Zydus Cadila for 12 to 18 year-olds will be made available sooner than that.
He further added that by September end they should be able to give vaccine shots to children, citing that it is important to reopen schools. Discussion regarding the reopening of schools and other educational institutes is being discussed actively.
Vaccinating children was intensively increased given the risk that they would be affected in the third wave.
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While several experts including Paediatrics believe that children might not impact children severely, however, the government has decided to not take any chances.
The newly appointed health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government is planning to implement a health infrastructure package under which paediatric centres will be set up in 736 districts and mentioned that 4000 specialised Intensive care unit beds will be created for children.
The package will be enforced within time months, he started.
Meanwhile, States like Delhi, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh have already begun making special care arrangements for children.
Also Read: Zydus applies to DCGI seeking emergency use of its Covid vaccine
Mandaviya informed allotment of a package worth Rs 23,123 crore by the cabinet to deal with the impact of the second Covid wave.