Jabs for Kids, Reducing Gap Between Doses for Those Travelling Abroad on Agenda as NTAGI Meets Today

As India witnesses a surge in coronavirus cases once again, the Covid-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) will meet at noon on Wednesday to discuss reducing the gap between the second dose and the precaution dose for people traveling abroad as well as vaccinations for 5-12 and 6-12 age groups.

Last week, India’s drug regulator DCGI granted emergency use authorisation for Biological E’s Covid-19 vaccine Corbevax for those aged five to 12 years and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children in the age group of six to 12 years. Following this, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed that the “decision (on vaccination for 5-12 age group) will be taken on the basis of the recommendation of an expert committee”.

However, the NTAGI meeting on Friday remained inconclusive about firming up SoP and detailed guidelines for vaccination.

If NTAGI finds the data satisfactory, it may pave the way for the inclusion of younger children in the national immunisation mission.