The Serum Institute of India will launch children vaccine Covavax in six months, said its CEO on Tuesday during an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
“Currently Covavax for kids aged three and above is under trial” he added.
Covavax is the version of US-based Novavax’s Covid vaccine candidate.
“There is enough data to show that the vaccines will work and protect children against the virus. Don’t know what will happen with Omicron. So far children have not been affected very badly,” said Poonawala.
“Yes, you should go and get your children vaccinated. There is no harm. These vaccines are safe and efficacious,” he further added.
The Pune-based firm had submitted interim safety and immunogenicity data of phase 2/3 bridging clinical trials conducted in the country as well as interim clinical trial data of safety and efficacy from phase 3 clinical trials conducted in the UK and the US along with its application.
Till now India has approved only one Covid vaccine, Zydus Healthcare’s ZyCoV-D, for children aged 12 years, for emergency use. Besides this, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is yet to be approved by the Drug Controller General of India for emergency use in India.