The Government is expected to begin vaccinating children against Covid-19 by next month, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present at the meeting.
The Union Government had expressed confidence that it would soon able to vaccinate children between 12 and 18 years of age.
Mandaviya said India is on course to become the largest vaccine producing country as more companies will get production licences.
Zydus Cadila, which is developing DNA vaccines, has concluded its trials for the 12-18 age group, and subject to statutory provisions, the vaccine may be available in the near future, the Centre had said.
This will be a big step in breaking the chain of transmission and also reopening schools across the country amid warnings of a possible third wave of Covid, according to medical fraternity.
Earlier this month, Dr NK Arora, who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccines, had said that vaccination for children will start by September with the Zydus vaccine for 12 to 18-year-olds.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Zydus Cadila’s candidate are testing vaccines for children. The results of the Covaxin trials are expected by September, AIIMS chief Randeep Guleria has said.