Tamil Nadu set to be first state to give kids aged 2-18 yrs vaccine

COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu is to become the first in the country to administer Covid-19 vaccines to those aged 2-18 years, said State Health Minister M Subramaniam on Wednesday.

The Centre has made a formal announcement on the vaccine and sent the proposal for an expert opinion, and once Tamil Nadu gets the nod, the State would be the first to administer the vaccine, Subramaniam told reporters here.

An expert panel of the Central drug authority has recommended granting emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children and adolescents in the 2 to 18 years age group with certain conditions, sources said on Tuesday.

If approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), it would be the second COVID-19 vaccine after Zydus Cadila’s needle-free ZyCoV-D to receive EUA for use in those below 18 years.

Tamil Nadu was the first also in inoculating pregnant women after the Centre announced the scheme for them, he said.

So far, over five lakh such women were given the vaccines, he said.

Subramaniam was here to participate in various functions, including the one at a private educational institution where he launched projects to create awareness among the public on ‘No Food Waste,’ ‘Hand Wash’ and ‘Re-purpose Used Cooking Oil.

‘ Lauding the district administration and health department, Subramaniam appreciated the task being taken by the administration to enter into record books by converting the used cooking oil into bio-diesel.