On the 20th of August, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved the Gujarat based Zydus Cadila manufactured Plasmid DNA vaccine against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) for children. The approval of the vaccine came after studying the report of the efficiency of the vaccine, which is said to be 66 %. To complete the three phase trials, the Gujarat based company conducted the third phase trial on 28,000 children across India. After the trial was successful, the DCGI approved the drug to be used for emergency purposes.
The three dose DNA vaccine would now be given to children above 12 years old in an emergency. With this, ZyCoV-D is the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine against the coronavirus and sixth vaccine which got approval in India. Zydus Cadila’s vaccine was developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology.
In addition, the three doses vaccine is said to be taken with the intervals of 0, 28 and 52 days. With the approval from the DCGI, the pharma company is now going to manufacture 10 crore to 12 crore doses of the newly approved vaccine, annually. The DNA Plasmid vaccine of Zydus Cadila would be available in the markets from October.
Mr. Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister said, “Double good news for the nation!@CDSCO_INDIA_INF approves the 1st DNA-based, needle-free #COVID19 vaccine in the world – ‘ZyCov-D’… Making children of India COVID-safe, this vaccine can be used for individuals aged 12 and above. ZyCov-D is the 6th approved #COVID19 vaccine in India, and the 2nd indigenously developed one. PM @NarendraModi Ji’s vision of #AatmanirbharBharat and Make in India delivers another significant accomplishment!”
Although the vaccine has been approved for adults and children above 12 years old, it is yet to be included in the vaccination drive and roll out for all. Final call to make the vaccine for children would be taken by the Central Government.
Meanwhile, other five vaccines which were given approval in India are:
The Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactured Covishield, the Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech International Private Limited manufactured COVAXIN, Russia’s Sputnik V, the United State of America’s (U.S.A.,) Pfizer’s and Johnson and Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccines.
In addition, as of now, COVAXIN of India and Pfizer’s Moderna are lined up for the children in India. If approved, vaccines would be given to children between 12-17 years old.
However, approval for children below 12 might take a bit longer as the trials are yet to begin, considering the sensitive age and risks involved.
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