World

India to target children for COVID-19 vaccine from Oct: sources

By Reuters

File - Children, who do not have access to internet facilities and gadgets, walk past a house with the walls converted into black boards after attending open-air classes following the closure of their schools due to the coronavirus disease outbreak, at Joba Attpara village in Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal, India, September 13, 2021. Photo: Reuters

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 22

All Indian children aged 12 or older will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations from next month, when drug maker Cadila Healthcare launches its ZyCoV-D product, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The world's first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D won emergency authorisation from Indian regulators last month. From October, the company, better known as Zydus Cadila, will produce 10 million doses a month.

The health ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The sources sought anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to media.

The vaccine is the only one approved for children in India, which has given a total of 825.9 million doses to adults among its population of nearly 1.4 billion.