Question : COVID Vaccine for Children

(a) whether the Government has laid a roadmap to administer COVID vaccines in children between the age group 12 to 18, if so, the details thereof and the number of children in this age group, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of clinical trials conducted so far for vaccination in the age group of 12 to 18 years within the country along with the outcome thereof?
(c) the number of tests required for approval of such vaccination in the country;
(d) whether any COVID-19 vaccine for children is likely to be developed indeginously in the country, if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has any plan to import any COVID-19 vaccine for children, if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the time by which the vaccine is likely to be made available for children to fully vaccinate them?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (f) National Expert Group on vaccine administration for Covid (NEGVAC) and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) are deliberating and considering scientific evidences related to vaccination of children between the age group 12 to 17 years. The State/UT-wise number of children in the age group 12 to 17 years is given in annexure 1.
As of now, ZyCoV-D vaccine manufactured by M/s Cadila Healthcare has received the approval for Restricted Use in Emergency Setting by the National Regulator i.e. Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the age group of 12 years and above based on the interim clinical data of Phase III clinical trial conducted in the country.
Following COVID-19 vaccines are under clinical trials in the country for age-group of less than 18 years:
i. M/s Bharat Biotech is conducting Phase II/III clinical trial of COVAXIN on Healthy Volunteers aged 2 to 18 years & firm has submitted interim safety & immunogenicity data to the National Regulator.
ii. M/s Serum institute of India is conducting Phase II/III clinical trial of Nanoparticle Vaccine (Liquid) (COVOVAX) in 920 subjects of >2 to 17 years age group.
iii. M/s Biological E Ltd., is conducting Phase II/III clinical trial of RBD of SARS-CoV-2 gene in 624 subjects of =5 to