Vaccination of children between 12 and 17 in India, including prioritizing those with health complications, will be announced before the Zydus Cadila vaccine is rolled out in October, the government's Covid panel chief NK Arora has said. He also suggested that schools should be reopened, citing the latest serosurvey to explain that children are less likely to get severe Covid infection.

Arora said it is estimated that there are around 120 million children in the age group of 12-18 years in India and less than 1 per cent of them may have health problems, Indian media reported. 

"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, who heads the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), said.

He said there are about 440 million children in the country under the age of 18 and suggested reopening of schools was necessary for the "intellectual development" of children.

"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," he said.