The government is likely to start vaccinating children against COVID-19 by next month, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a BJP Parliamentary Party meeting held on Tuesday.
He also said that India is on course to become the largest vaccine producing country as more companies will get production licences. Earlier this month, the Centre had told the Delhi High Court that vaccines may be soon available for children between 12 and 18 years of age and a policy on vaccinating them would be formulated after acquiring approval.
An expert panel of India’s Central Drug Authority on Tuesday also recommended granting permission to Serum Institute of India (SII) for conducting phase 2/3 trials of Covid vaccine Covovax on children aged 2 to 17 years with certain conditions, official sources said.
