CHENNAI: Nearly 3.8 lakh doses of Biological E’s Corbevax, authorised by the national drug authority, for emergency use among children in the 12-18 age group, sent by the Centre has now been stocked in the state drug warehouse.
The state has 10 lakh children in the 12-15 age group who will receive two doses of Corbevax, health minister Ma Subramanian said. “We have received the first consignment. The vaccination will begin soon after the Centre releases the schedules and protocols,” he said.
Corbevax is a receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein subunit Covid vaccine that is administered intramuscularly with two doses (0.5ml each), 28 days apart. The vaccine can be stored at 2-8°C. The makers supply them as a single-shot pack of 0.5ml, 5ml vial of 10 doses and 10ml vial containing 20 doses. The results of the sero surveillance study in Tamil Nadu done in November showed that nearly 68.4% of those in the 10-18 age group carried antibodies against the virus that causes Covid-19. Overall 87% of people across ages and districts in the state carried antibodies. “There is still a section of students who are vulnerable to infections. It is important for them to take the vaccination,” said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam.
Like for children in the 15-18 age group, the immunisation wing will organise vaccination for children above 12 in schools, Subramanian said. “We were able to vaccinate the 15-18 age group swiftly because we held the drives in schools,” he said. Of the 33.4 lakh people in the 15-18 years age group, at least 82.27% have taken the first dose since January 3 and 37.6% completed the course.
While many people who have been vaccinated get infected, they may not require admissions to hospital or intensive care units, doctors say. Although nearly 91.3% of adults in the state have taken at least one dose of the vaccine, more than 1 crore people are yet to take the second dose. “There will be no mega vaccination camp this weekend, but daily vaccinations will continue. At least 67 places including government medical colleges provide free vaccination round the clock every day,” Subramanian said.
