Know What Odisha’s Health Director Has To Say About COVID Shots For 5-12 Age Group

Bhubaneswar: State Health & Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi on Friday said COVID-19 vaccine to children in the 5-12 age group in Odisha will be administered only after detailed guidelines are released to states by the Centre.

“Expert panel of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has recommended a COVID vaccine for children in 5 to 12 years age group for emergency use. After that states will receive directive to administer the vaccine among children of a particular age group. Accordingly, arrangements will be made in schools and vaccination centres,” he said.

There are nearly 50 lakh children in the 5-12 age group in Odisha.

Panigrahi also said that schoolchildren should undergo COVID test if they develop flu-like symptoms. “We have to remain cautious because cases are increasing in other states. In case infections rise in Odisha, we might see return of mask rule. Health infrastructure in the state is ready,” he added.

An expert panel of the DCGI on Thursday recommended emergency use authorisation to COVID vaccine Corbevax for children in the 5-12 age group.

Corbevax, developed by Hyderabad-based Biological-E, is India’s first indigenously-developed RBD protein sub-unit vaccine against the coronavirus.

It is being administered to children in the 12-14 age group from March 16, 2022.