US health authorities have filed an application to authorize a vaccine against the coronavirus developed in India, for children aged 2 to 18, the Ocugen company announced on Friday.
The Covaxin vaccine received emergency approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday from the age of 18.
It is currently authorized in 17 countries and tens of millions of doses have already been administered to adults around the world outside the United States, notably in India.
It is an inactivated virus vaccine, a relatively conventional technology.
So far, clinical trials have been conducted on 526 children aged 2 to 18 in India.
Antibody levels seen after vaccination “were equivalent to those seen in adults over 18,” the statement said. “These results suggest similar protection in children.”
This week, the United States launched its vaccination campaign for 5-11 year olds with the Pfizer vaccine.
Israel has not yet started vaccination for this age group because the issue is still debated in public opinion.
A senior health official said Thursday that only parents should decide whether or not to have their child vaccinated.
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