COVID vaccine clinical trials on children near completion, Centre tells Delhi HC
The submission was made in a petition seeking a direction for inclusion of children (12-18 age group) and their parents as priority groups in the Covid-19 vaccine drive being undertaken in the national capital.
FollowThe Centre on Friday told the Delhi High Court that trials of Covid-19 vaccines for those aged below 18 years were ongoing and the same are about to be completed.
A policy will be formed by the government and children will be vaccinated when experts give permission, the Centre said. A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh observed, let the trials be done, otherwise it would be a disaster if vaccines are administered without trials that too in case of children.
The submission was made in a petition seeking a direction for inclusion of children (12-18 age group) and their parents as priority groups in the Covid-19 vaccine drive being undertaken in the national capital. The petition has been filed by a 12-year-old through her mother and a woman whose child is 8 years old.
Once trials are over, you quickly apply to children. The whole country is waiting, it added. The court listed the matter for further hearing on September 6.
The High Court was hearing a PIL filed on behalf of a minor. It sought directions for the immediate vaccination of those in the 12-17 age group on the ground that there were fears a likely third wave of Covid-19 could affect them more.
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma earlier told the court Zydus Cadila, which is developing DNA vaccines, has concluded its trial for those aged between 12-18 years. Sharma further told the court that subject to statutory provisions, the same may be available in the near future for the children. Centre in a reply before the court also said that the Drug Controller General of India has permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct clinical trials on health volunteers between 2 years to 18 years of age for its vaccine Covaxin.
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