Pune: A total of seven teenagers from Pune have received three Covid – Zycov-D vaccine shots – as part of sophisticated human trials throughout the country who concluded last month.
If approved, Zycov-D will be the first vaccine in India for the age group 12-17 years.
The Pharma company based in Ahmedabad Zydus Cadila has now submitted an application for emergency use permits.
This vaccine is likely to be available next month or early October.
“Our trial study has shown that Zycov-D is safe for children in the age group 12 to 17 years.
The trial participants do not report a post-vaccinated adverse reaction,” said Medical Director of the Bharati Hospital and the Head of the Children’s Doctor Sanjay Lalwani.
The hospital has prepared 12 teenagers and registered eight, adjusting criteria for further trials in early June.
“More than 1,000 teenagers participated in the vaccine phase III trial throughout the country,” said Lalwani.
“Zycov-d is the first DNA vaccine in the world.
It has a three-dose schedule.
It is given with special needle-free injectors because it will be given intradermal (under the skin) and not intramuscularly.
If licensed, it will be the first vaccine used In the population of children over 12 years in India, “said Lalwani.
Three doses of ZY-COV-D will be given on days 0, day 28, and day 56.
Zydus Cadila has last month said it has submitted an emergency use permit (EUA) with Indian drug regulators and plans to produce 10-12 doses of crore every year.
V K Paul, a member of the Government Think Tank Niti Aayog, said the drug controller General India (DCGI) was checking the Covid Zydus Cadila vaccine for children.
“More data is needed.
The scientific process must be resolved.
We must be sure that it must be effective and safe,” Paul said.
While overcoming the media, Lav Agarwal, the Secretary of the Association of the Ministry of Health Union, said the center would decide on the vaccination of children as soon as the center of the trial was quite strong.
This will depend on the decisions of experts, he added.
Zydus Cadila officials in Ahmedabad could not be contacted for their comments even though they repeatedly.
Mumbai-based officials of the company, when encouraged by the definite number of teenagers participating in trials throughout the country, refused to share data sitting “legal issues”.
Other countries also began to allow teenagers to be vaccinated.