'Covovax now available for children in India', says Adar Poonawalla, hails Modi

Serum Institute of India (SII) director for government and regulatory affairs Prakash Kumar Singh had written to the Centre recently requesting for Covovax's inclusion in the immunisation drive for children aged 12 to 17 years.

Updated on: May 10, 2022, 19:57:42 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Children aged 12 to 17 years in India can now get the Serum Institute of India's (SII) Covid-19 vaccine Covovax, pharma company's CEO Adar Poonawalla announced on Tuesday. “Covovax (@Novavax), is now available for children in India. This is the only vaccine manufactured in India that is also sold in Europe and has an efficacy of > 90%,” Poonawalla tweeted.

Adar Poonawalla’s Serum Institute of India locally manufactures the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine under the brand name Covishield. (Reuters file)

He also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision of providing another vaccine for children.

“This is in line with Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision of providing yet another vaccine to protect our children,” he added.

Covovax is the second Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by SII, which makes the Covishield, the dose that is most widely used in the country. On December 28, the DCGI had approved Covovax for emergency use in adults, and approved the vaccine for emergency use in those aged 12 and above in March this year, making it the fourth Covid vaccine approved for emergency use in children in this age group.

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) had recently recommended that Covovax be included in the government’s programme for children aged 12 and above.

On Monday, news agency PTI reported that Covovax can now be available at private centres with a provision for it being made on the CoWIN portal.

A dose of Covovax will cost ₹900 plus GST, in addition to hospital service charge of ₹150.

Currently, children aged 12 to 14 years are vaccinated with Biological E's intramuscular vaccine Corbevax, while those in the 15-18 age group are being administered Bharat Biotech's Covaxin at government vaccination centres.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.