Patna: With the National National Regulator Expert Committee (SEC) gives a green signal to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to vaccinate children in the age group 2-18 years against Covid-19, the State Health Department has begun to be prepared to launch a lot of awaited Wait for vaccination drives for children in Bihar.
Special Secretary of State Health Department Sanjay Kumar Singh told this newspaper that drive vaccination for children will soon begin after receiving direction in this case from the authorities concerned and many vaccine doses by the state.
There are more than 3 crore children in the state and, therefore, the vaccination rate will depend on the vaccine dose received, he said.
Singh further showed that during the first wave and second Covid-19, a large number of children were infected, but around 70% of them had developed anti-body.
Welcoming permission to use Covaxin in children, Dr.
Sanjeev Kumar, The Nodal Officer for Covid-19 in AIims Patna, said the required settings already existed in the hospital and the vaccination process will begin immediately after the vaccine dose is available.
He said the vaccine was quite safe and effective for children, as shown during the trial.
Dr.
Kumar said that nearly 200 children were given a dose of Covid-19 vaccine during clinical trials in the AIims-Patna in three separate phases (12-18 years in phase I, 6-12 years in phase III and 2-6 years in phase III) And there are no bad reports from every child.
Children over 12 years in the US have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Covaxin is the second Covid-19 vaccine that must be approved for emergency use among children in India after Zydus Healthcare’s Zycov-D, intended for children over 12 years.
Now all children will be protected against Covid after the success of implementation Vaccination is intended for them, “he said.
Dokter Pediatrician Dr.
Arun Shah said nearly 40 crore children in the age group 2-18 in the country will be protected against Covid-19 with the use of covaxin.
He said the Zycov-D vaccine already exists for children, but it doesn’t have to be provided free of charge.
The terms and conditions for the Covaxin supply have not been announced by the government, but it hopes it will be free to children in government hospitals and health centers.
Shah appealed to the guardian to make their children vaccinated immediately after the vaccine dose was available for them.
This vaccine is safe and effective for children as well as adults, he said.
Rana Avanindra Singh, residents of Anandpuri, said he was anxiously awaiting the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine for children since his 12-year-old daughter began attending an offline class at school.
“I will make my daughter vaccinate as soon as the process starts in the city,” he said.