ICMR raise question on whether very small children need vaccination

In the wake of the ongoing trial of vaccination on children, the Indian Council of Medical Research said that whether very small children will ever need a Covid vaccine, is still a question.

New Delhi:Against the backdrop of the ongoing trial for vaccinating children between the age of 2-18 years, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Friday said that whether very small children will ever need a Covid vaccine, is still a question. "There is only one country that's is giving a vaccine to children at the moment. Whether very small children will ever need a vaccine, is still a question. Till such time, we have more data on vaccination of children, we won't be in a position to vaccinate children at large," said ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava in New Delhi.

Referring to the ongoing trial of vaccination on children, Dr Bhargava said that the result is expected by September. "However, the international jury is still not out and they are still debating whether children need to be vaccinated. We have seen some complications in the United States," he said while addressing a press conference. The statement given by Dr Bhargava assumes significance following anticipation that a possible third wave of Covid-19 may largely affect the children.

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It may be mentioned here that Bharat Biotech has already started a trial on the efficacy of its vaccine on children. Referring to the issue of vaccinating pregnant women, Dr Bhargava said that pregnant women can be vaccinated against Covid-19. "The Health Ministry has given guidelines that the vaccine can be given to pregnant women. The vaccine is useful for pregnant women and it should be given," said Dr Bhargava.

In a related development, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry said that India's Covid-19 scenario is improving every alternate day. "From 103 districts in April 30 to May 6, the number of districts registering positivity rate less than 5 per cent increase to 565 districts," said Agarwal. He said that there is a sharp decline in weekly positive also. "There was 85 per cent decrease in weekly positivity since the highest reported weekly positivity of 21.6 per cent in between April 30 to May 6," he said.

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The weekly positivity has now decreased to 3.1 per cent from June 18-24. He said that India's Covid-19 recovery rate has also increased up to 96.7 per cent. "On May 3, India has registered 81.8 per cent recovery which now stood at 96.7 per cent," added Agarwal. Significantly, India's Covid active cases have also witnessed a decreasing trend with more than 83 per cent. India has registered 37,45,237 active cases on May 10 which had now come down to 6,12,868 on June 25.

Agarwal said that earlier 531 districts were reporting 100 and above daily cases which have now come down to 125 districts reporting 100 daily new cases. The number of districts registering 100 daily cases was 262 in the week ending June 2. "A reduction of 406 districts indicate containment of infection in relatively limited territories," said Agarwal.

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