Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government is not in a hurry to administer Covid-19 vaccine to children and that any decision in this regard will be based on expert opinion.
Zydus Cadila’s Covid vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization for children of ages 12 and above. However, it is being initiated in some countries in a limited manner.
The expert group is carrying out further studies in this regard. As children are involved, a lot of evaluation has be done and one needs to tread with caution as children are the future of the country, said the minister.
Despite India being a large country with diverse challenges, around 80 per cent of the adult population have taken the first dose. It is believed that the first dose of vaccination gives 96 per cent protection and both doses give 98.5 per cent protection. Data has emerged that after vaccination, one does not get severe Covid.
