All about the first approved COVID-19 vaccine for kids
After months of hard work, researchers and virologists all across the world were able to find vaccines against COVID-19, the virus that took millions of lives. However, these vaccines aren’t applicable to kids below 18. In fact, children were not on the priority list of experts toiling hard to create a vaccine against this deadly virus. This is because they have been the least affected so far by COVID-19. However, experts are of the opinion that kids need to be vaccinated too, especially before the third wave of COVID-19 hits.
After a long wait, India’s Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical chain Zydus Cadila has been granted an emergency approval by the country’s drug regulator to manufacture the world’s first COVID vaccine for children using a DNA platform. Named as ZyCoV-D, this vaccine will be suitable for the young population aged between 12 to 18 years, alongside the adults.
How does the vaccine work?
Developed in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology, ZyCoV-D has been manufactured on the Plasmid DNA platform. Plasmids are ring-like parts of DNA that replicate on their own. They are modified in such a way that the antigen or spike protein of the Sars Cov-2, that are injected inside the human cells convert themselves by prompting the production of more such proteins inside the body. This in turn leads to an immune response from the body through the formation of antibodies against Covid-19 virus.
How is the vaccine administered?
ZyCoV-D is a needle-free vaccine to be administered with the help of a needle-free applicator that will push a small quantity of the vaccine into the dermal layer of skin at a very high pressure. ZyCoV-D is the first intradermal Covid-19 vaccine to be delivered right under the upper layer or epidermis of the skin. While other intradermal vaccines like BCG use needles, ZyCoV-D is modified to be pain-free.
Number of dozes required
ZyCoV-D is a three-doze vaccine. While the second dose should be administered 28 days after the first, the gap between the third and first dose should be 56 days.
When will it be available in India?
ZyCoV-D will be available in the middle of September this year. Its price will be revealed in the first week of September. The company hopes to scale up their production to 10 million per month, starting from October, in their new production plant.
Expected rate of efficiency
According to a company press release, this vaccine will exhibit 66% efficacy in case of mild to moderate COVID infection and up to 100% efficacy against severe infection, thus preventing hospitalization or fatality.