“Should Procure Pfizer Vaccine ASAP For Our Children”: Delhi CM Tweet

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called on the centre to procure the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to immunize children in the national capital and across the country. “We should procure this vaccine asap (as soon as possible) for our children,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted Thursday morning.

The vaccine, Pfizer told the government, has been proven suitable for children over the age of 12. It has been cleared for use on 12-15 year old children in the United States and Canada.

None of the three vaccines currently approved for use in India – Covishield, Covaxin or Sputnik V – have been cleared for use on those below 18, although Covaxin is expected to starts trials for the 2-18 age group by the month’s end.

Pfizer is willing to roll out five crore doses between July and October – if it receives significant regulatory relaxations, including indemnification, or protection from compensation claims in case of adverse events.

The two sides have held a series of meetings over the past few weeks, some of which also includes Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, to resolve issues, including grant of legal indemnity.

States hold on they do not have enough doses to vaccinate both age groups – 18-44 and over-45. The centre insists that they do. This has slowed vaccinations, particularly for the former age group, which government data says accounts for nearly half of all new Covid cases this month.