Coronavirus vaccine for children is expected to be available by September, said the Director of ICMR-NIV, Priya Abraham, amid the threat of approaching the third wave during which children are said to be targeted by the virus experts said. In an interview, Ms Abraham said that the Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of Covaxin are presently going on in children in the age group of 2-18 years.
"Hopefully, the results are going to be available very soon. The results will be presented to the regulators. So, by September or just after it, we may have COVID-19 vaccines for children. This apart, Zydus Cadila's vaccine trial is also going on. This can also be applied for children and will be made available," she said.
Clinical trials of the Covid-19 vaccine by Zydus Cadila are underway which can also be applied to children and will be made available soon, adding that Cadila’s vaccine is the first DNA vaccine that India will have for use.
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ICMR-NIV director also notified that Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd's m-RNA vaccine, Biological-E vaccine and Serum Institute of India's Novovax, will be available in India in the coming days. Further, speaking on Covid booster shots, Ms Abraham stated that several kinds of research have been going on aboard and no less than seven various booster doses have been tried out.
"Now, WHO has put a stop to it till more countries catch up with vaccination. This is because there is an alarming vaccine gap between high-income and low-income countries. But, in future, recommendations for boosters will be added.
Elaborating on her thoughts about the mix and match of separate Covid vaccines, Abraham said, "There was a situation where inadvertently two different vaccines were given in two doses.”
The NIV has tested two samples of the Covid vaccines and discovered that the patients who were given different vaccines in two doses were found to be safe. While no serious reactions were detected and immunogenicity was a little better.
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"So, it is not something which will cause a safety issue. We are studying this phenomenon and will be able to give more details in a few days," added Abraham.
Warning people about not gathering in huge crowds, Priya Abraham said that crowding will invite the next wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
"New variants will keep on coming. We have two weapons which are the biggest protection. These are: wearing masks properly and actively encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. Then even if a wave comes, it will not be a big one,” the ICMR-NIV director said.