This Vaccine For Indian Kids Aged 7-12 Approved By DGCI: mRNA vaccine Also Approved For Emergency 

COVID-19 vaccine will now be available for children between the ages of 7 and 12. They will be given the Covovax vaccine made by Serum Institute of India.

The Drugs Controller General of India has also approved India’s first indigenously developed mRNA vaccine against COVID-19.

Read on to find out all the details about this new development!

DGCI Approves Covovax For Children Between Ages 7 And 12

Up until today, Covovax, a recombinant spike protein nanoparticle vaccine, had been authorized for use on anyone 12 years of age and older. It is injected intramuscularly twice, with a three-week interval between each injection.

For younger children, it is unclear, though, if the disparity will remain the same.

Covovax was suggested earlier this week by a government panel to be licensed for use in children older than seven who are experiencing medical emergencies.

On December 28 and March 9, the DCGI approved the limited use of Covovax in emergency situations for adults, subject to specified restrictions, and for children aged 12 to 17.

In April, we reported that emergency vaccines will now be made available for children above the age of 5.

India’s First Indigenously Developed Vaccine: mRNA

The mRNA vaccine is India’s first indigenously developed vaccine and can be used against COVID-19 for restricted use in emergency situations.

As per reports, the DGCI has approved the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals’ two dose mRNA vaccine for restricted use in emergency situations. 

This vaccine has been approved for people above 18 years of age. This vaccine, for the first time ever, is stable for storage at 2°C to 8°C.

The Subject Expert Committee under India’s drug regulator has stated that the data submitted by the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals is “satisfactory.” This data was submitted by the company in April and then again in May as well.

Detailed Timeline of India’s Covid-19 Vaccination Drive

The country’s vaccination drive against Covid-19 started last year in 2021.

• It was rolled out on January 16, 2021, for healthcare workers. This was the first phase of vaccination in India.
• The second phase started on February 2, 2021, for frontline workers, meaning those under the umbrella of essential services.
• Starting March 1, 2021, the third phase of vaccination began in the country, for senior citizens above 60 years of age, along with those aged 45 and above with underlying select comorbid conditions.
• For everyone aged 45 and above, the vaccination drive started on April 1, 2021, in the fourth phase.
• The fifth phase started on May 1, 2021, for everyone above the age of 18 years, along with those aged 18.
• The next phase, phase 6 started on Jan 3, 2022, for those between 15-18 years of age.
• From March 16, 2022, the 7th phase of Covid-19 vaccination will start in the country.