New Delhi: Supplies of ZyCov-D are set to start within the next few days but with the Omicron variant on the prowl and no decision yet on a vaccination policy for children, the world’s first DNA vaccine may not be used in the national programme right away.
The vaccine is the only one currently authorised for use in India in people aged less than 18 years.
The government of India placed orders for one crore doses of the vaccine with the manufacturer Zydus Cadila about three weeks ago and the first supplies are set to come in by the first week of December.
ZyCov-D is a three-dose vaccine that uses a special applicator instead of a needle. Each dose comprises two shots of the applicator. It was approved in September for use in people aged above 12 years.
In a meeting with states Thursday, seven states (Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal) were identified as the ones where ZyCov-D vaccine will be used whenever the rollout happens. The states were asked to identify districts with high numbers of unvaccinated people for introduction of the vaccine.
“We have placed orders for ZyCov-D and will start getting supplies by the first week of December. We are ready, training of vaccinators in using the special applicator has been completed. But we may not start using it in the national programme right away,” said a senior health ministry official.
“The vaccine has a shelf life of six months. The decision about vaccinations of children and of booster doses are still with NTAGI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India). They do not seem to be able to reach a consensus. We will wait for NTAGI to take a decision on the matter,” he said.
Also read: Three-dose ZyCoV-D vaccine could be just two doses, says pharma firm Zydus Cadila
Decision on vaccinating children
The subject expert committee of the Drug Controller General of India had recommended in October that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin be approved for use in children aged as low as two years old but the matter is still under the drug controller’s consideration.
Meanwhile, a decision about vaccinating children is still pending with the Covid working group of the NTAGI — the highest scientific body in the country on vaccinations.
The vaccine situation in the country has eased considerably in the last couple of months. According to a government statement issued Thursday morning, more than 22.78 crore (22,78,95,731) remaining and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
ZyCov-D, though, has the least shelf life of all the vaccines currently in use in the national programme. Covaxin has a shelf life of 12 months and Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, has a shelf life of nine months.
Also read: Modi govt drives hard bargain, ZyCov-D vaccine could cost Rs 275/dose or even less
No recommendation on prioritising children with comorbidities
Dr N.K. Arora, head of the Covid working group of NTAGI, has said multiple times that a decision has been taken to prioritise those children for vaccination who have comorbidities. However, government officials say that no concrete recommendation has been made by NTAGI even after several months of deliberations.
“We have read some statements about children with comorbidities being prioritised, but no such recommendation has reached us yet,” the health ministry official said.
The sticking point seems to be the list of comorbidities that would make children eligible. Without this list, there is no clarity on how many Indian children will get vaccinated in the first phase. A balance will also have to be struck with vaccine availability.
Officials say that Indian children can only hope to be vaccinated in the new year.
ZyCov-D most expensive vaccine yet
Of all the vaccines currently being procured by the government, the DNA vaccine is going to be the most expensive, at about Rs 358 a dose. This includes the cost of the applicator. The gun used in the applicator costs Rs 30,000 and has to be changed after every 20,000 shots.
Covaxin is currently being procured at Rs 215 a dose and Covishield at Rs 205 a dose. Of the 124.96 crore vaccine doses administered so far in the country, a little over 10 per cent—13.81 crore doses — are of Covaxin.
(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)
Also read: Zydus Cadila to supply 1 crore doses of ZyCoV-D vaccine to Modi govt at Rs 265 per jab