Covid-19 standing committee of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) will submit its scientific recommendations on the vaccine rollout for children to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVEC) in the next few days.
Needle-less three dose Zydus Cadila shot will be administered in the first phase, said sources in the Union Health Ministry. “The government is preparing guidelines for vaccination below the age of 18 years against coronavirus and the announcement is expected to come by the end of next week,” the sources added.
Presently, 70 per cent of the population has already received at least one jab of Covid-19 vaccination. Stress is now on to inoculate to school kids also as States open schools gradually.
“The decision of how vaccination to children will be phased or categories of children will be prioritized will be taken in the first half of the month. The results for Bharat Biotech’ clinical trial of Covaxin on children is also expected to be submitted to the Drug Controller General of India for emergency use approval around October 20-21,” said the sources.
At the weekly health ministry briefing, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had recently said: “Zydus vaccine will be introduced very soon. No date has been decided as yet. The pricing will be different from other jabs as it’s a three dose vaccine.” Last week, responding to a question at a press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul had also said that efforts are on to bring Zydus Cadila’s DNA vaccine in practical shape and implementation.