New Delhi: The Union Government on Thursday said there was no scientific body that showed that the vaccination of children against Covid-19 must be a condition to reopen the school, but inoculation of teachers, school employees and their desired parents.
At a press conference, Niti Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said whether children must be vaccinated and who among them must get Jab is a scientific and public health discourse that develops.
Only a large number of countries that introduce child vaccinations so far, he said.
In addition to the aspect of vaccination, the overall epidemiological situation must be safe to open school, he said.
Most importantly, following standard operating procedures about ventilation, seating arrangements, class staggering and wearing masks, among others, will be critical when the school is opened, Paul stressed.
“There is no scientific body, epidemiology, no evidence shows that vaccination against Covid-19 must be a condition to reopen the school.
However, teacher inoculation, other school employees and the desired parents,” he told a press conference.
“No one has also recommended that we have to move in that direction for reasons such as low death and high asymptomatic infection incidence.
We as a nation and the government work actively towards our vaccine scientific validation for potential use of children.” Paul said that the Zydus vaccine was also licensed for children.
How and when will be given being discussed by the scientific body, said Paul, adding that the trial of Covaxin to children approached the settlement.
Hyderabad-based biological limited has been given permission to conduct a phase of two / three clinical trials from the Covid-19 vaccine developed illegally in children and adolescents between five and 18 years with certain conditions.
In July, Indian drug regulators also gave permission to the Serum Institute of India (SII) to phase two / three Covovax vaccine experiments in children aged two to 17 years with certain conditions.
“One vaccine (Zydus) has been available for potential use in children and we are awaiting decisions from Ntagi in this matter,” Paul said.
According to the source, Ntagi will condense a road map map to introduce the Zycov-D three dose vaccine in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive and will also develop a list of priorities with a focus on adolescents aged 12-18 years with comorbidity.
Ntagi will provide a protocol and framework for the introduction of this vaccine in the Covid-19 immunization drive, they said.