Panel for emergency use approval to SII vaccination for 7-11 age group

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI:  An skilled panel advising the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has advisable granting emergency use authorisation to Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covovax to be used in youngsters aged 7-11, official sources stated Friday. Now, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) will overview the advice earlier than granting closing approval.

Officials stated the Subject Expert Committee deliberated upon the matter and advisable EUA to be used in youthful youngsters. The course of of knowledge overview was on for previous few months. The software for emergency use authorisation was submitted by Prakash Kumar Singh, Director (authorities and regulatory affairs) at SII, on March 16. The skilled panel in its final assembly in April had sought extra information from the Pune-based agency.

Covovax, the protein vaccine from US main Novovax, already has DCGI nod to be used in adults in addition to the 12-17 age group. Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, too, has approval to be used for 12-17-year olds. The authorities has procured Biological E’s Corbevax for adolescent vaccination however has not positioned orders for Covovax, officers stated.

The skilled panel had advisable the usage of Corbevax for youngsters as younger as 5 in April, whereas it had sought extra information from Bharat Biotech for youths in 2-11 group. India began vaccinating adolescents within the age group of 15-18 years in January, and expanded the drive to incorporate youngsters as younger as 12 years from March.