India: 3 COVID-19 vaccines for children approved

New Delhi: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday approved three COVID-19 vaccines for the restricted emergency use authorisation (EUA) for children of different age groups.

The DCGI gave the restricted emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children between the age of 6-12 years.

In another development, the drug regulator approved restricted use in emergency situation for Biological E’s COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax for children of 5 to 12 years age group.

Besides Corbevax and Covaxin, the DCGI also approved restricted use iA emergency situation to ZycovD (Zydus Cadila vaccine) for children above the age of 12 years for a two-dose regimen.

“India’s fight against Covid more stronger!

@CDSCO_INDIA_INF has approved Covaxin for 6 to 12 years of age group, Corbevax for 5 to 12 years age group of children and two doses ZyCoV-D for above 12 years of age group for Restricted Use in Emergency Situations,” Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted in Hindi.

This development comes after the Subject Expert Committee discussed recommendations for the restricted emergency use of Covaxin in children aged between 2-12 years.

However, the SEC, after a meeting on Thursday, has recommended restricted emergency use of Biological E’s Covid-19 vaccine, Corbevax, in children aged 5-12 years.

Meanwhile, citing a report by the IIT Kanpur on a fourth COVID-19 wave, Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Tuesday the state will witness a peak after June which will remain till September and October.

The Minister said that IIT Kanpur had also published reports during the previous three waves, which turned out to be “accurate and scientific”.

“We have to start living with COVID and it is possible in a simple way through vaccination and wearing masks. It can keep you away from disease,” he said.

Fears of the looming fourth wave have led to concerns over new restrictions being imposed on Ramzan festivities.

Authorities are contemplating more restrictions after the Prime Minister’s meeting with Chief Ministers on Wednesday.

According to Sudhakar, the present virus is mutant and it is said that it is a sub lineage of Omicron virus.

An official report is yet to come from the lab in this connection, he said, adding that the number of cases in Karnataka are very less as compared to other states.

It is not correct to say the fourth wave has arrived, the Minister added.

He underlined that deaths and hospitalisations could be prevented only because of vaccination.

It will come as a flu type infection for those who have taken vaccination. For people who have not taken vaccination, it is going to be dangerous, he said.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Gaurav Gupta stated that everyday 60 to 80 cases are reported in BBMP limits.

Presently hospitalization is very less and further decisions would be taken after analysing the trend, he said, while appealing to people to get the booster dose on priorit