Finance
According to sources, the NTAGI’s Standing Technical Sub-Committee has recommended that the Serum Institute’s Covovax be included in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged 12 to 17 years.
Covovax was approved by India’s drug regulator for restricted use in emergency situations in adults on December 28 of last year, and in the 12-17 age group, subject to certain conditions, on March 9.
“The COVID-19 working group of the NTAGI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) had earlier reviewed data related to Covovax and okayed it. The NTAGI’s Standing Technical Sub-Committee which met on Friday has recommended that the vaccine can be used for 12-17 years age group,” an official source said.
Prakash Kumar Singh, Director for Government and Regulatory Affairs at the Serum Institute of India (SII), recently wrote to the Union Health Ministry, requesting that Covovax be included in the immunisation drive for those aged 12 and up.
Singh stated that the Pune-based company wanted to supply Covovax to private hospitals for Rs 900 per dose plus GST and was awaiting instructions to do so. The price of the vaccine for the government, however, was not mentioned.
From March 16, the country began immunising children aged 12 to 14.
Source:IE
