A senior epidemiologist from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Sunday 26 December, termed the government decision of vaccinating teenagers "unscientific".
"I am a great fan of PM Modi for his selfless service to nation and taking right decisions at right time. But I am completely disappointed with his unscientific decision on children vaccination".Dr Sanjay K. Rai, who is also the principal investigator of Covaxin trials for adults and children at the AIIMS, said in a tweet.
Before executing the plan, data from other countries on children vaccination should be analysed, said Dr Rai who is also also the President of the Indian Public Health Association.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Saturday, 25 December, announced the vaccination for children aged between 15 to 18 will start from 3 January.
He also announced "precautionary" doses for frontline and healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech's COVID vaccine Covaxin on Saturday, 25 December, got approval from the Drug Controller General of India for emergency use for children aged between 12-18 years amid growing concern for new COVID variant Omicron.
The committee had noted that the interim safety data of the Phase 2/3 clinical trials was reviewed in a meeting on 26 August.
After detailed deliberation, the committee had recommended the grant of authorisation of the vaccine for the 12 to 18 years age group for restricted use in emergency situations subject to certain conditions.
Earlier, Zydus Cadila's three-dose DNA vaccine was allowed to be used on adults and children over the age of 12.
(This story was published from a syndicated feed. Only the headline and picture has been edited by FIT)
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