Zydus Cadila seeks emergency use nod for COVID vaccine for 12+ age | Fusion - WeRIndia

In the wake of warnings from health experts about the third wave of COVID-19, which may affect children, many pharmaceutical companies are manufacturing vaccines for them. Some are conducting clinical trials as well.

Now, Zydus Cadila applied for the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine for children. The company sought a nod from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to launch its vaccine for all people, including children above 12 years.

Zydus Cadila completed the third phase of clinical trials for its DNA vaccine, ZyCoV-D. The data showed that the vaccine is safe for children in the age group of 12 to 18 years. Hence, the company wants to launch its vaccine for children also. It plans to manufacture up to 120 million doses per annum.

ZyCoV-D is a three-dose vaccine. The recommended interval between each dose is 4 weeks. While the second dose is administered after 28 days, the third dose will be administered after 56 days. The company is working on a two-dose vaccine as well.

ZyCoV-D is the second indigenous vaccine. Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is the first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine.

Zydus wanted to launch its vaccine in June 2021 as it got approval to conduct clinical trials for its vaccine last July. The company said that the vaccine is effective against new mutant variants of COVID-19 also, including the Delta variant. While the vaccine is it is 100 per cent effective for moderate COVID cases, its efficacy is 66.6 per cent against severe symptomatic cases.

As the clinical trials of ZyCoV-D were proved to be safe according to Zydus, it sought a nod from the DCGI for EUA of this vaccine so that the company can launch its product in the market soon.

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