NTAGI likely to review Covid vaccine call for the 5-12 year-olds on May 4

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) will meet on May 4 to review the data of COVID-19 vaccines for the 5-12 age group, ANI has reported, quoting sources.

Last week, the Standing Technical Sub-Committee of the NTAGI had recommended inclusion of the Serum Institute's Covovax in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged 12 to 17 years.

"The decision (on vaccination for 5-12 age group) will be taken on the basis of the recommendation of an expert committee," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told reporters last week.


India's drug regulator had approved Covovax for restricted use in emergency situations in adults on December 28 last year and in the 12-17 age group, subject to certain conditions, on March 9.

Last week, it granted emergency use authorisation for Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax for those aged five to 12 years and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for children in the age group of six to 12 years.

The country began inoculating children aged 12-14 from March 16.