India / Clinical trials over, Zydus Cadila vaccine for 12-18 age group soon: Centre to SC

New Delhi: The Central government has informed the Supreme Court that pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila, which is developing DNA vaccines, has concluded its clinical trial for children between the age group of 12 to 18 years and the shots will be available soon.

"It is submitted that Zydus Cadila which is developing DNA vaccines has concluded its clinical trial for between the age group of 12 to 18 years of age and subject to the statutory permissions, the same may be available in near future for children in the age group of 12 to 18 years of age," the Centre said in its affidavit filed in the top court in the suo motu matter on COVID management.

Amid the shortage of doses in the country, the Centre also told the Supreme Court that a total of 135 crore vaccines will be available from all sources by the year-end.

According to the Centre, the projected availability of Covid vaccine doses from August 2021 to December 2021 are as follows: Covishield 50 crore, Covaxin 40 crore, Bio E Sub unit vaccine 30 crore, Zydus Cadila DNA vaccine 5 crore, Sputnik V 10 crore.

Over 31 cr vax doses administered

The government also told the apex court that till June 25 more than 31 crore Covid vaccine doses have been administered across the country which includes over 1.73 crore doses to Health Care Workers (HCWs).

Over 2.66 crore doses have been administered to Frontline Workers (FLWs), over 9.93 crores doses to persons between 45 to 59 years of age and over 8.96 crore doses to persons above the age of 60 years, it said.

The government said besides these, over 7.84 crore doses have been administered to persons between 18 to 44 years of age. "Total 44.2 per cent of the priority population of persons above 45 years of age and 13 per cent of the population group of 18-44 years of age have received the first vaccine dose," it added.