There will be a meeting held on Monday by the drug regulator’s expert committee to get the measure of the Biological E’s application seeking emergency approval for the new Covid vaccine Corbevax to be implemented in youngsters of 12-18 years of age. If it is approved for adolescents up to 18 years of age it will help the government to boost up the Covid immunization drive to indemnify youngsters between 12-15 years as well as ahead of the commencement of the academic sessions in schools and other academic institutions.
A senior regulatory official has told, “We have scheduled a meeting of SEC on Monday where the data related for use in 12-18 years old will be evaluated in detail. If the committee is satisfied with the data, it will recommend EUA. The final regulatory approval will follow.”
However, with Covaxin as the only available vaccine with the approval seal for adolescents, expansion of the program is a challenging one because of the limited production of the jab. Apart from 15-17 years old, Covaxin is also being used in adults for primary 2 doses as well as the third one for a precautionary dose in healthcare and frontline workers. However elderly’s are getting booster doses for further precautionary measures and they must have completed the first two doses of the same vaccine.
Since Corbevax has already been given emergency approval for use in adults above 18 years of age, the center has placed a purchase order with Biological E limited 5 crore doses effects covid vaccine Corbevax which is expected to arrive by the end of February and consequently boost the availability of vaccine doses across States and UTs under the government’s covid immunization program. In June 2021 the government had released an advance of Rs. 1,500 crore to HLL Lifecare Limited for procurement of Corbevax from Biological E limited. The government has then placed an advanced order to purchase 300000000 doses of Biological E’s Corbevax.
