US Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has submitted an application to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), seeking permission to conduct COVID-19 vaccine trials in India on children in the 12-17 age group. The company's single-shot vaccine has shown an 85 percent efficacy in protection against severe disease in phase 3 clinical trials.
At the same time, the US pharma giant said it had submitted its application on Tuesday. It is imperative that all sections, including children should vaccinate against the coronavirus at the earliest. The company said that we remain deeply committed to the important work needed to make our COVID-19 vaccine equally accessible to all age groups.
In a statement, the J&J said, "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." At the same time, the company has already received EUA or emergency use approval for its one-dose vaccine, which will be supplied in India through an agreement with Hyderabad-based Biologicals E. Ltd.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had said on Thursday that COVID-19 vaccines for children would be available very soon. He said two other clinical trials conducted by Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila are already underway and their results are likely next month. Clinical trials focusing on vaccine safety and efficacy for children highlighted in recent weeks and months. Amid fears that future waves of infection may target those below 18.
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