22.2.22

Covid-19: 3rd vaccine available for 12-17 age group

The nation’s drug regulator has authorised vaccine-maker Biological E’s Corbevax for emergency use among children aged 12-17, making a third shot available in the Covid inoculation drive for youngsters. The Centre has already placed a purchase order for 5 crore doses of Corbevax, likely to be available in states by February-end.

This is the third vaccine to be given emergency use nod for 12-17 after Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Zydus Cadila’s ZyCov-D. Currently, only Covaxin is given to children aged 15-17.

The Serum Institute of India—makers of Covishield —has also sought regulatory nod for emergency use of Covovax in those aged 12-17. Once SII gets the permission for Covovax, it will further improve the availability of jabs for kids and may prompt the government to lower the age limit for Covid vaccination to 12.

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