The government's Covid panel chief NK Arora has claimed that details regarding the vaccination of children aged between 12 and 17 will be announced ahead of the Zydus Cadila vaccine rollout in October this year.

Stating that children are not prone to severe infection as a result of Covid-19, Dr. NK Arora, who heads the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), also recommended the reopening of schools in the country in order to enhance the intellectual development of children.

"There are 12 crore children in the 12-17 age group. They are unlikely to have serious health complications or death due to the virus. On the contrary, chances of health complications in their parents, who may be between 18-45 years, are likely by 10-15 times. Hence, our priority is to vaccinate this group before we start vaccinating children," Dr. Arora stated.

He added, "Children can go to schools. There is no need for vaccination, but it is necessary to develop a shield around them - by ensuring that their parents and school staff are vaccinated." Regarding the government's plans to procure the vaccine, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, "Coming to negotiations, what we have understood from media reports as well as our own engagement with the vaccine manufacturing company is that they would be in a position to make available this vaccine from the first week of October."

"So we are in talks with them and the moment we crystallise the terms and conditions of procurement we will share it with you," he further specified at a press conference. Zydus Cadila is reportedly the world's first DNA-based needle-free Covid-19 vaccine. ZyCoV-D received emergency use authorisation from the drug regulator on August 20, hence making it the first vaccine to be administered in children aged 12-17 in the country.