Covaxin approved for emergency use in 2–18-year-olds

Covaxin moves one step forward.

 Covaxin approved for emergency use in 2–18-year-olds

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• The story: The Subject Expert Committee on Covid-19 has approved the “emergency use” of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine for children aged between 2-18 years old.
• Details: The Phase-2 and Phase-3 trials of the Covaxin vaccine by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech on children below the age of 18 years in the months of September. Trial data was submitted to the Drugs and Comptroller General of India (DCGI) in October 2021.

1. Latest trials suggest safety and immunogenicity of India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine is almost the same in children aged 2-18 years, as it is in adults above 18-years of age.
2. Trial was done by diving children into three groups. The first group was between 12 -18 years, second group was between 6- 12 years while the third age group was between 2-6 years.

• Covaxin: It is codenamed as BBV152, and is an inactivated virus-based COVID-19 vaccine. It was developed by Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Vaccine is usually considered effective if the estimate is more than 50% with a more than 30% lower limit of the 95% confidence interval. Bharat Biotech reported the Covaxin is 64 percent effective against asymptomatic cases, 78% effective against symptomatic cases, 93% effective against severe infection while 65% effective against the Delta variant of coronavirus.
• Development process: Covaxin uses a traditional technology which is similar to inactivated polio vaccine. In the initial phase, sample of SARS-CoV-2 was isolated by National Institute of Virology, India. Then this sample was used to grow large quantities of virus using the vero cells. Following this, viruses were soaked in beta-propiolactone, in order to deactivate them by binding to their genes. Resulting inactivated viruses were then mixed with aluminium-based adjuvant Alhydroxiquim-II.
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain the four basic types of Covid-19 vaccines being used today. (2) What were the controversies associated with Covaxin? Explain.

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