Srinivas G Kasi1, Shashi Kant Dhir2, Abhay Shah3, S Shivananda4, Sanjay Verma5, S Marathe6, Kripasindhu Chatterjee7, Sunil Agarwalla8, Sanjay Srirampur9, Srinivas Kalyani10, Harish K Pemde11, S Balasubramanian12, G V Basavaraja13, Bakul J Parekh14, Remesh Kumar15, Piyush Gupta16. 1. Kasi Clinic, 2nd Cross, 3rd Block, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka. Correspondence to: Dr Srinivas G Kasi, Convener, ACVIP of IAP, Kasi Clinic, 2nd Cross, 3rd Block, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka. sgkasi@gmail.com. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab. 3. Dr Abhay K Shah Children Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Fortis Hospital, Banneraghatta Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka. 5. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh. 6. Marathe Child Care Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra. 7. Department of Pediatrics, Santiniketan Medical College, Bolpur, West Bengal. 8. Department of Pediatrics, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha. 9. Department of Pediatrics, Aditya Super Speciality Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana. 10. Department of Pediatrics, Niloufer Hospital, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana. 11. Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. 12. Department of Pediatrics, Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 13. Department of Pediatrics, IGICH, Bengaluru, Karnataka. 14. Bakul Parekh Hospital for Children, Mumbai, Maharashtra. 15. Apollo Adlux Hospital, Kochi, Kerala. 16. Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Abstract
JUSTIFICATION: Data generated after the first wave has revealed that some children with coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) can become seriously ill. Multi-inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and long COVID cause significant morbidity in children. Prolonged school closures and quarantine have played havoc with the psychosocial health of children. Many countries in the world have issued emergency use authorisation (EUA) of selected Covid-19 vaccines for use in children. In India, a Subject Expert Committee (SEC) has recommended the use of Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) for children from the ages of 2-18 years. The recommendation has been given to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for final approval. OBJECTIVE: To provide an evidence-based document to guide the pediatricians on the recommendation to administer COVID vaccines to children, as and when they are available for use. PROCESS: Formulation of key questions was done by the committee, followed by review of literature on epidemiology and burden of Covid-19 in children, review of the studies on COVID vaccines in children, and the IAP stand on Covid-19 vaccination in children. The available data was discussed in the ACVIP focused WhatsApp group followed by an online meeting on 24 October, 2021, wherein the document was discussed in detail and finalized. RECOMMENDATIONS: The IAP supports the Government of India's decision to extend the COVID-19 vaccination program to children between 2-18 years of age. Children with high-risk conditions may be immunized on a priority basis. The IAP and its members should be a partner with the Government of India, in the implementation of this program and the surveillance that is necessary following the roll-out.
JUSTIFICATION: Data generated after the first wave has revealed that some children with coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) can become seriously ill. Multi-inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and long COVID cause significant morbidity in children. Prolonged school closures and quarantine have played havoc with the psychosocial health of children. Many countries in the world have issued emergency use authorisation (EUA) of selected Covid-19 vaccines for use in children. In India, a Subject Expert Committee (SEC) has recommended the use of Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) for children from the ages of 2-18 years. The recommendation has been given to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for final approval. OBJECTIVE: To provide an evidence-based document to guide the pediatricians on the recommendation to administer COVID vaccines to children, as and when they are available for use. PROCESS: Formulation of key questions was done by the committee, followed by review of literature on epidemiology and burden of Covid-19 in children, review of the studies on COVID vaccines in children, and the IAP stand on Covid-19 vaccination in children. The available data was discussed in the ACVIP focused WhatsApp group followed by an online meeting on 24 October, 2021, wherein the document was discussed in detail and finalized. RECOMMENDATIONS: The IAP supports the Government of India's decision to extend the COVID-19 vaccination program to children between 2-18 years of age. Children with high-risk conditions may be immunized on a priority basis. The IAP and its members should be a partner with the Government of India, in the implementation of this program and the surveillance that is necessary following the roll-out.
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