Zydus Cadila Covid-19 vaccine for children above 12 years could be available by August as its trials are likely to be completed by July-end, said Dr N K Arora, Chairman, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

 

 “Trial will be almost complete till July-end and in August, we will be able to vaccinate children aged between 12-18 years,” reportedly said NTAGI chief.

Commenting on the ICMR study that the third wave is likely to come late, he said that in the coming months, the government has targeted to administer 1 crore doses every day to achieve the target of immunizing everyone in the country within a time bracket of six to eight months.

The NTAGI chief also said that vaccination-related rumors are vague and vaccines in India are 95-96% safe.

“ICMR has come up with a study which says the third wave is likely to come late. We have a window period of six-eight months to immunize everybody in the country. It is important that people come forward proactively and take the vaccines, that’s absolutely necessary. There are several rumors, misinformation which is spreading in the country. Similarly, people have some vague fear in their minds. They think there may be some side effect or vaccine may be unsafe,” said Dr Arora reportedly.

He further said, “Scientifically, we have been looking at adverse events during vaccination, 95-96% people have only mild fever or local pain, 4-5 percent people have been hospitalized due to an allergy or some get anxious and they have to be hospitalized but otherwise these vaccines are absolutely safe”.