NTAGI may discuss kids’ inoculation this week

THE PANEL IS LIKELY TO DISCUSS THE MODALITIES OF VACCINATION FOR THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 12

NEW DELHI: With schools in many states reopening, with restrictions, and the government on August 20 approving the first vaccine for those over the age of 12, the big questions in every parent’s mind have been when the vaccination of children is likely to start, and who will be eligible for the first vaccines. These will likely be answered this week with the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) set to meet this week to discuss the modalities of vaccination for those over the age of 12, according to people familiar with the matter.

One of them, a senior government official, said that there may be a phased approach to vaccinating those over the age of 12 years, much like there was with the adult population, with children considered vulnerable to the disease getting the first jabs. “The list of comorbidities will be specified as it was done in adults; while in adults, age was a major criteria, in the case of children, it is likely going to be the comorbid conditions that will be the deciding factor for eligibility,” this person said on condition of anonymity.

The health conditions that are likely to get included are all types of cancers, congenital heart disease, and chronic liver and kidney or lung diseases . Children who have undergone an organ transplant will also be prioritised. On August 23, NTAGI chairman N K Arora said, “Children with comorbidities will be given preference when paediatric vaccines are introduced in the system, be it Zydus Cadila’s ZYCOV-D or Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, or the one that the Serum Institute of India is testing among children.”

“It is important to vaccinate all eligible children because they also run the risk of exposing the whole family, especially the elderly and sick y,” said Dr JS Bhasin, head, department of paediatrics, BLK Hospital.