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The country&rsquo;s Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on Tuesday approved Bharat Biotech&#39;s COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, for emergency use in children between two and 18 years of age.</p>
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&quot;Bharat Biotech had submitted data from clinical trials in the 2 to 18 age group for Covaxin to Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. The data has been thoroughly reviewed by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) which has provided positive recommendations,&quot; Bharat Biotech said in a statement.</p>
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This represents one of the first approvals worldwide for COVID-19 vaccines for the two – 18 age group. We now await further regulatory approvals prior to product launch and market availability of Covaxin for Children,&quot; the Hyderabad-based company said.</p>
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The final approval will be given by the Drug Controller General of India which is considered a mere formality after the positive recommendation of the SEC.</p>
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Once this approval comes through, Covaxin would be the first shot to be available for kids aged between 2 and 12, while those in the 12-18 years age-group can choose between Covaxin and Zydus Cadila&#39;s DNA-based vaccine.</p>
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<strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/health-news/zydus-cadila-s-india-made-dose-covid-vaccine-approved-for-use-by-expert-panel-109238.html">Zydus Cadila&rsquo;s India-made 3-dose Covid vaccine approved for use by expert panel</a></p>
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Two other companies, Serum Institute of India and homegrown drugmaker Biological E., have also been allowed to test their shots on children.</p>
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Bharat Biotech began a trial of Covaxin in children in June following a devastating second wave led by the Delta variant that had overwhelmed the country&#39;s healthcare system.</p>
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Several countries have been working to authorise vaccines for children, with the United States clearing Pfizer&#39;s shot for children aged 12 and above.</p>
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The advisory panel to the U.S. regulator will meet later this month to discuss the shot for children between 5 and 11 years of age.</p>
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While COVID-19 is known to usually cause mild disease in children, there is a risk of rare post-disease complications.</p>
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&quot;Children with comorbidities should be vaccinated as soon as possible now that a vaccine with immunogenicity in children and a large safety database in adults is available,&quot; said Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor at Christian Medical College, Vellore.</p>
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&quot;For healthy children, given low risk and low virus circulation at the moment, it is safe to wait until more adults are covered,&quot; she added.</p>
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India has so far fully vaccinated around 29% of about 944 million eligible adults, as per government data, which includes administration of more than 110 million doses of Bharat Biotech&#39;s Covaxin.</p>
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