India is in the “dilution phase” of the second Covid-19 wave, but the situation should not be taken lightly, VK Paul, the head of the country’s Covid task force, said in a conversation with CNBC-TV18.
“The Covid-19 count is stabilizing. It looks like we are in the phase of second wave easing. However, given the experience of the second wave, we cannot take anything lightly,” Paul said on Monday.
Taking precautions, Paul also expressed concern for Mizoram due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases, adding that there were some states where the positivity rate is still high.
On the question of vaccines, Paul said workers are being trained to administer the ZyCoV-D vaccine and pricing issues are being dealt with. “Pricing issues for ZyCoV-D are still a work in progress. Workers are being trained to administer the vaccine.”
Currently, three vaccines – Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V – being administered in the country are only for people over the age of 18. These are all two-dose vaccines. Zydus Cadila’s indigenously developed needle-free Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D is set to become the first vaccine that will be available to people in the age group of 12-18 years in India. It has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
Elaborating on the Centre’s plans, he said that the top priority is to vaccinate all adults. “We await final certification on Covaxin for Children,” he said, adding that the center is systematically vaccinating children with co-morbidities.
An expert panel of the Central Drugs Authority of India has recommended an EUA for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children and adolescents aged 2-18 years, subject to certain conditions. If approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), it will be the second vaccine after ZyCoV-D to receive the EUA for use among people under 18 years of age. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) is looking into how ZyCov-D should be placed for most optimal use.
On exports, Paul said once India meets its own requirements, supplies of vaccine to COVAX can be made available.
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