New Delhi: Dr. Randeep Guleria, Head, All India Institute of Medical Sciences said that the availability of Covid-19 vaccines for children will be a significant achievement and will pave the way for the opening of schools and activities outside for them. He said that the data of Phase II and III trials of Bharat Biotech’s Vaccine on children in the age group of two to 18 years is expected by September. He said that after the approval of the drug regulator, vaccines for children may be available in India around that time.
According to a senior government official, drug maker Zydus Cadila is also expected to apply to the Drugs General of India for approval for emergency use of its anti-Covid-19 vaccine ‘Zycov-D’. The company claims that this can be given to both adults and children.
Dr. Guleria said, ‘Therefore, if Zydus vaccine is approved, then it will also be another option.’ He said that although children have mild symptoms of Covid-19 infection and some do not even have symptoms, they can be carriers of the infection.
Referring to the widespread loss of studies due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the last one and a half years, the AIIMS chief said, “Schools will have to be reopened and vaccination can play an important role in this.” He said that vaccination is the only way to overcome the epidemic.
