“Trial of Vaccines for Children Nearing Completion, policy Formulation Soon:” Centre Tells Court

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, July 16: Even as the prime minister Narendra Modi asked the chief ministers to take proactive steps to prevent the possible third wave in the country, the Centre on Friday told the Delhi High Court that trials of Coronavirus vaccines children below the age of 18 were about to be completed.

It told the court that a policy would soon be formulated and implemented by the Centre for vaccination of children as expeditiously as possible after grant of requisite permissions by the body of experts.

The submission was made in a petition seeking a direction for inclusion of children (12-18 age group) and their parents as priority group in the COVID-19 vaccine drive being undertaken in the national capital. The petition has been filed by a 12-year-old through her mother and a woman whose child is 8 years old.

The division bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh on Friday said the whole country was waiting for vaccination of the children. The court granted more time to the Centre and listed the case for hearing on September 6.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma earlier told the court that Zydus Cadila, which is developing DNA vaccines, has concluded its trial for those aged between 12-18 years. Sharma further told the court that subject to statutory provisions, the same may be available in the near future for the children. Centre in a reply before the court also said the Drug Controller General of India has permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct clinical trial on health volunteers between 2 years to 18 years of age for its vaccine “Covaxin.”

Declining a prayer seeking to make the process time-bound, the court said there cannot be a time limit for a research. “They are saying trials are on and it is on the verge of completion. You want a time bound schedule?” added the court.

It further said, “Everybody is in a hurry. Everybody is for the vaccine but a foolproof trial should be there, otherwise it will be a disaster.”

India on Friday reported 38,949 new coronavirus cases, marginally down from over 41,000 cases on Thursday, and 542 deaths in the last 24 hours. With this, the country’s total caseload rose to 3.1 crore, while the death toll increased to 4.12 lakh. Active cases presently stand at 4,30,422.

In another development, while the Uttar Pradesh government was still looked to be adamant to permit “Kanwar Yatra” of the followers of Lord Shiva, the centre opposed it and told the Supreme Court that no state should allow such “yatras” during the pandemic situation. The Uttarakhand government which has banned the “Kanwar Yatra” in its state has decided to keep a close watch on the state’s borders with UP as most of the “Kanwariyas” travel to Haridwar in Uttarakhand to collect Ganga waters as per the “Kanwar Yatra” rituals.

The petitioners in the Delhi High Court had argued that, “The ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 has affected children in India far more than it did in the ‘first wave’ which affected the nation in the year 2020. The Respondents (authorities) should be mindful that the virulence and spread of the infection under the second wave has been far more in 2021 than it was in the first wave. Thus, news reports based on advice of medical doctors, virologists, who predict that a ‘third wave’ would be more virulent for children should not be ignored.”

It further argued that the inaction of the authorities in vaccination of children as well as their parents, being their primary caregivers, as a priority category has resulted in violation of the National Policy on Children 2013.

“Other countries of the world, where COVID-19 pandemic has been felt, like US and Canada, have already started administering appropriate dose of vaccine to children,” reads the petition, adding the authorities were ignoring the international and national medical data and opinion “which is clear that vaccinating children and their caregivers as a priority sector is an essential component for breaking the chain of COVID-19 virus transmission.”

Earlier in the day during a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Maharashtra and Kerala, the Prime Minister urged them to take proactive measures to rule out any chance of a third wave. “We are at a point where there are talks about a possible 3rd wave of COVID. In last few days, around 80% of new cases have come from these 6 states,” Modi said.

Meanwhile, the Niti Aayog Member-Health Dr VK Paul on Friday said one dose of vaccine was able to reduce the mortality rate by 82% while two doses were successful in preventing 95% of deaths during the second wave.

The Health and Family Welfare Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said only 73 districts recorded more than 100 Covid-19 cases daily in week ending on July 14 while only 47 districts had positivity rate over 10%.

In the Supreme Court, the centre said the states must not permit “Kanwar Yatra” to Haridwar in Uttarakhand, in view of the Covid-19 situation. However, considering religious sentiments, state governments must develop a system to make ‘Ganga Jal’ available via tankers for Kanwariyas at designated locations, the Centre said.

The Supreme Court today asked the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision to allow Kanwar Yatra saying health of people and right to life was paramount.

“It is of prima facie view that it concerns all of us and is at the heart of the fundamental right to life. The health of citizens of India and right to life is paramount, all other sentiments whether being religious is subservient to this basic fundamental right,” the apex court bench said. The court asked the UP government to apprise the court about its decision on Monday, otherwise, it will pass an order.

Meanwhile, the health ministry said 47 districts across 12 states and UTs reported over 10 per cent Covid-19 positivity rate for week ending July 15 while only 73 districts recorded more than 100 Covid-19 cases daily in week ending on July 14.

“Analysis shows a projected decline in the use of face masks as we resume activities. We should incorporate the use of face masks in our lives as a new normal,” said Lav Agarwal.

The Maharashtra government has exempted those people who have got both the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from carrying a negative RT-PCR test report for entering the state, although there has to be a gap of at least 15 days between the second dose and the date of arrival. An order to this effect was issued late night on Thursday by state chief secretary Sitaram Kunte. “A person entering the state should be vaccinated with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and 15 days should be lapsed since the administration of the second dose. That person should be in possession of the final vaccination certificate issued through the COWIN portal,” the order said.

Meanwhile, the capital of the United Arab Emirates has announced a sudden overnight lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, even as the rest of the country remains open for tourism. The state-run WAM news agency announced late Thursday the lockdown would begin Monday and last each day from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. It comes just ahead of the long Eid al-Adha holidays in the UAE, which begins Monday as well.