Covid-19 vaccine for children likely by October: Official

India is likely to start Covid vaccination for children from October. Details on when the vaccination drive will commence for children between 12-17 years of age will be announced before the Zydus Cadila vaccine is rolled out in October, the government’s Covid panel chief NK Arora has said.

He further said that there are 12 crore children in the 12-17 age group, however, vaccination priority will be given to those with health complications.

Indian drug regulator DCGI had last week approved Zydus Cadila’s three-dose Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in adults and children aged 12 years and above

Most schools in India have been shut since the first nationwide lockdown imposed in March 2020. This has brought forth unprecedented challenges such as denying many children access to quality education.

Addressing this issue, Dr Arora said, ‘there are about 44 crore children in India under the age of 18 and suggested reopening of schools was necessary for the intellectual development of children.’

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Dr Arora’s comments come amid concerns the third wave is more likely to affect children.

Earlier in July, Dr Randeep Guleria, director of AIIMS and member of the national task force on Covid management, had suggested opening up schools in a staggered way, especially for districts that are seeing less virus circulation.