Covaxin finally approved for children aged 12 to 15; Vaccination for those aged 15 to 18 from Jan 3

As cases of Covid variant Omicron are increasing manifold, Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on Saturday got approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for emergency use for children aged between 12-18 years.

The news of approval came just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationwide speech in which he announced that children aged 15 to 18 will be provided with the vaccination from January 3, 2022. Further frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities will be given the booster dose from Jan 10, 2022.

The vaccine manufacturer had submitted data from clinical trials in the 12-18 years age group for COVAXIN (BBV152) to Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Bharat Biotech had said earlier that the data was reviewed by the CDSCO and Subject Experts Committee (SEC) and has provided their positive recommendations.

This makes Covaxin the second vaccine cleared for use for children in India. Earlier, Zydus Cadila's three-dose DNA vaccine was allowed to be used on adults and children over the age of 12.

Meanwhile, the Omicron infection tally has climbed to 415 across the nation. However, out of total Omicron positive cases, 115 have been discharged. So far, a total of 17 states have reported the Omicron infection, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.

Also, India on Saturday registered 7,189 fresh Covid cases in a span of 24 hours. A total of 387 deaths have also been reported in the same time, said the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Friday.

With the addition of 358 new deaths, the total Covid death toll has climbed to 4,79,520.

With the administration of 66,09,113 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 141 crore as per provisional reports till 7 a.m. on Saturday.

(With inputs from IANS)