VACCINATION FOR CHILDREN

  

      While the national vaccination programme against the pandemic has had a smooth sailing with the adults crossing the 40 crore mark making it the largest vaccination drive in the world, the vaccine for children is yet to take off and is long due. The education sector, in particular, has been hit very badly by the pandemic with the school children missing their physical class-room sessions for nearly one-and-half years. Although some states are currently embarking on ambitious plans of opening the schools   in a restricted manner, the parents have opened expressed their concerns in sending their wards to schools.

      Availability of a dependable vaccine for children will be a milestone achievement in bolstering the education sector in the country as this would not only ensure the safety of children but also facilitate the reopening of schools in a graded manner and the resumption of outdoor activities. This would also boost the confidence of parents in letting their children go to schools.  It is also widely speculated that the impact of a possible third wave on children due to the new variants is likely to be more severe compared with the first or the second wave. Hence, the timely availability of a vaccine for children is the only way out of the deadlock created due to the pandemic.

        In the meantime, some western countries have gone ahead with their vaccination programme for children. The US Food and Drug Authority (USFDA) and Canada’s drug regulatory authorities have recently given nod to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the emergency authorization use for children. This vaccine requires two shots to be given in 21 days apart. Similarly, the European Union’s regulatory authority, European Medicines Agency (EMA), has recommended authorizing the Moderna vaccine for use in children aged between 12 and 17 and, according to the research conducted in more than 3,700 children of 12 to 17 age group, the shots indeed produced substantial antibody response. Russia, the manufacturer of the Sputnik V vaccine, has also tested a nasal spray version suitable for children aged 8-12 and plans to launch the new product in September.  

        In India, the situation is fast picking up momentum and the government plans to rope in indigenous manufacturers to ensure adequate and timely supply of quality jabs to fulfill its dream of inoculating its younger citizens. In India, two vaccine candidates, in particular, are in the race of completing the formalities for launching their jabs for children.

          The Ahmedabad based manufacturer, Zydus Cadila, which is developing a DNA plasmid based vaccine, has already concluded its trial tests for the 12-18 age group, and, subject to statutory provisions, the vaccine might be available very soon in the near future. The Company has already applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorization for its vaccine ZyCoV-D, which it claims would be effective for both adults and children. The vaccine will be the first needle-free shot to be administered as an intradermal injection using a spring-powered jet injector. The efficacy of the vaccine is reported to be 66.6% against the symptomatic and 100% against the moderate or severe patients based on the interim analysis of its phase 3 trial data. The vaccine contains a DNA plasmid vector that carries the gene encoding the spike protein of the virus. As with other DNA vaccines the recipient's cells then produce the spike protein, triggering an effective immunogenic response against the pandemic.

     The Hyderabad based pharma Bharat Biotech is going through its clinical trial phases (phases II and III) for its Covaxine nasal spray jab for children and the data for the results is likely to be available by September. Similarly, the Pune based vaccine giant Serum Institute of India is all set to start phase II and phase III pediatric trials of its Covovax in 920 children (460 each in 12-17 years and 2-11 years groups) from next month. The primary objective of the study is to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine among children. Hence, if everything goes well, a first-hand vaccine for children is expected by early October.

                   Going by the 80% coverage strategy, the government would have to ensure the supply of enough vaccines to cover its 104 million strong children population against the disease. The exercise would, therefore, require at least 208 million doses of a two dose vaccine. Hence, it is going to be a herculean task for the government in the coming days to make its dream come true of bringing back the lost glory of the children’s education in the country.

 

                                                                                   Nikunja Bihari Sahu

                                                                                 Education Officer

                                                                                 Regional Science Centre

                                                                                 Bhopal

                                                                                 Phone -8018708858