Centre to start Covid-19 vaccine on children soon: VK Paul

Hours after Pfizer sought approval of their anti-covid vaccine, which is being administered on children in many countries, the CCentral government on Thursday announced that Covid-19 vaccine trials on children in the country would begin soon.

Dr Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health) in NITI Aayog and the chair of National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), made the announcement on Thursday, while also clearing several myths on India's Covid-19 vaccination programme making rounds on the internet.

"As of now, no country in the world is giving vaccines to children. Also, WHO has no recommendation on vaccinating children," he said.

"Trials in children in India are also going to begin soon. However, vaccinating children should not be decided on the basis of panic in WhatsApp groups and because some politicians want to play politics," Paul said.

Paul further said that the decision in this regard is taken by our scientists after adequate data is available based on trials and announced that Vaccine availability is going to increase in near future and much more supply would be possible.

"In the non-Government of India channel, states are getting 25 per cent of the doses and private hospitals are getting 25 per cent doses. However, the hiccups and issues faced by the people in the administration of these 25 per cent doses by the states leave a lot to be desired. The behaviour of some of our leaders, who in spite of full knowledge of the facts on vaccine supply, appear on TV daily and create panic among the people is very unfortunate. This is not the time to play politics. We need everyone to unite in this fight."

"Covaxin production by Bharat Biotech is being increased from under 1 crore per month to 10 crore month by October."

With constant encouragement of the government, Serum Institute is ramping up Covishield production of 6.5 crore doses per month to 11.0 crore doses per month, he said.

"The Government is also ensuring in partnership with Russia that Sputnik will be manufactured by six companies coordinated by Dr Reddy's. The Union Government is supporting efforts of Zydus Cadila, BioE as well Gennova for their respective indigenous vaccines through liberal funding under Covid Suraksha scheme as also the technical support at national laboratories."