Coronavirus / Keeping an eye on report of Singapore COVID-19 variant affecting children: Govt

New Delhi: A Central government's think tank on Tuesday iterated that the government is tracking a new COVID-19 variant found in Singapore and also clarified that children don't get serious infection of coronavirus.

When asked about the variant found in Singapore and reports claiming it is affecting children as well, Niti Aayog Member-Health Dr VK Paul said, "We are examining report you are referring to about particular variant.. Regarding COVID-19 among children.. it is reassuring that they don't get serious infection. We are keeping an eye on this."

Talking about the government's plans to inoculate the young population of the country against COVID-19, he announced that Covaxin has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for Phase II/III clinical trials in the age group of 2 to 18 years.

"I have been told that trials will begin in the next 10-12 days," he added.

Dr VK Paul also confirmed that that the DCGI has granted permission for the emergency use of anti-COVID drug '2DG' developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

"We will examine the drug in COVID-19 National Task Force for adding it to the treatment protocol," said the Niti Aayog member.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that continuous efforts are being made to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine supply in a big way, asserting that attempts are on to provide states 15-day advance schedule of the inoculation programme as it will allow them to prepare accordingly.

Interacting with state and district officials at a virtual meeting, he described them as "field commanders" in the fight against COVID-19 and said localised containment zones, aggressive testing and sharing correct and complete information with people are weapons to defeat it.

The meeting was attended by district magistrates from 46 districts across nine states.