Immunisation for Children Expected to Begin in March
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 22: Vaccination for children with comorbidities is likely to start in January while by March the mass vaccination of children is expected to begin, official sources said on Monday.
The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI) is scheduled to meet in the next two weeks to finalise the immunization schedules for the children and draw up a comprehensive plan for additional doses for eighteen plus people.
The sources said for the government’s top advisory group on immunisation the additional doses for adults was a significant issue as some nations have also called for solid protection against the highly contagious coronavirus with booster doses.
Children are seen as priority group for vaccination now, with schools starting on-site classes in several states depending on the pandemic situation. After the devastating second wave that killed lakhs in India, concerns exist on whether children would be vulnerable next, since adults have already been vaccinated at least with one dose if not both.
A debate on whether additional or booster dose is needed is going on among policymakers and scientists around the world. The US is set to become the latest country to widen COVID-19 booster eligibility beyond those with comorbidities, the elderly and other high-risk groups.
Many scientists tracking the data believe it’s the right time for the move; however, some have expressed misgivings, since the original vaccines are still holding up well against severe disease and death among the general population.
Booster dose has remained a contentious issue among the medical experts. An independent panel advising the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in September initially voted against having boosters available for everyone, demanding narrower criteria. This time around, the US media has reported the USFDA is set to broaden booster dose eligibility without convening the outside experts.
