Johnson & Johnson seeks nod for Covid vaccine trials on teenagers in India

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US pharma giant Johnson & Johnson has sought approval from Indian drug regulators to conduct a trial of its COVID-19 vaccine in the 12 to 17-year-old age group, the company said on Friday.</p>
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Conducting vaccine clinical trials among adolescents is imperative to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus, J&J said in an emailed statement.</p>
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The U.S. pharma giant had received emergency use approval for its single-dose vaccine in India earlier this month, making it the fifth authorised vaccine in the country.</p>
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While J&J has an agreement with Indian vaccine maker Biological E Ltd to make its doses in the country, the company had said that it was too early to disclose a schedule for the delivery.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/health-news/zydus-cadila-vaccine-for-kids-aged-to-years-coming-soon-98257.html">Zydus Cadila vaccine for kids aged 12 to 18 years coming soon</a></strong></p>
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The company said on Friday that it has submitted an application to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on August 17 to conduct a study.</p>
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Studies have shown the J&J vaccine has 66 percent efficacy against preventing moderate to severe Covid-19, and about 85 percent efficacy against severe cases.</p>
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“To ultimately achieve herd immunity, it is imperative that COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials continue to move forward in this population, and we remain deeply committed to the critical work needed to make our COVID-19 vaccine equitably accessible for all age groups,” the J&J spokesperson said.</p>
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Indian pharma major Zydus Cadila has also submitted vaccine data for children above 12 years.</p>
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Serum Institute of India is also going to conduct trials on children for the Novavax vaccine candidate.</p>
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Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday that Covid-19 vaccines for children will be available ‘very soon’. Bharat Biotech is conducting trials on two-year-old children for the homegrown Covaxin vaccine.</p>