The country's drug regulator today allowed vaccine maker Serum Institute to enrol kids aged 7-11 years for its trial of US drugmaker Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine.
"After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for allowing enrolment of subjects of 7 to 11 years of age group as per the protocol," a subject expert panel of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said.
Serum Institute is already conducting a trial of its COVID-19 vaccine Covovax, a domestically produced version of Novavax's shot, in the 12-17 age group and has presented safety data for an initial 100 participants.The Novavax vaccine is yet to be granted approval by the health authorities.
Earlier this month, Serum Institute chief Adar Poonawalla said he expects Covovax to be approved for those below 18 years in January or February next year.
So far, only drugmaker Zydus Cadila's DNA COVID-19 vaccine has received emergency use approval in the country to be used in adults and children aged 12 years and above.
Covid mRNA Vaccines Contributing To Deaths, Doctors Call For Suspension Bharat Biotech Adds Top Medical Body ICMR As Co-Owner Of Covid Vaccine Patent Covid Vaccinated Pregnant Women At Lower Risk Of Caesarean Births: Study Suspected Car Attack On German Christmas Market Injures Up To 80 Tabla Legend Zakir Hussain's Funeral Held In San Francisco Video: Bird's-Eye View Of Devastation After Jaipur Accident That Killed 12 Volkswagen To Cut 35,000 Jobs In Germany By 2030 Suspected Car Attack On German Christmas Market Injures Up To 80 16-Year-Old JEE Student From Bihar Found Hanging From Fan In Kota: Police Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.