Children with comorbidities between ages 12 and 17 may get vaccine by October-November

Children with comorbidities may be able to get vaccinated as soon as October-November. Official sources have said to TOI, that children between the ages 12 and 17 that have comorbidities like heart diseases, obesity or immunodisorders will be eligible for the vaccine by then.

The only vaccine that has the required emergency approval to be used for children in the Zydus Cadila vaccine. Supplies of the vaccine ZyCov-D are likely to begin in October.

Zydus Cadila is expected to supply around 30 lakh vaccines in the first lot. After which, it will scale up to one crore, each time. The government has said that Zydus will be able to supply 4-5 crore doses by December.


The DNA based ZyCov-D is a three dose vaccine.

“We are waiting for Zydus to begin supplies. Once that starts we will initiate vaccination among children. This year, only those with comorbidities will receive the vaccine doses, rest will start getting it from the first quarter of next year,” a senior official told TOI.

There are around 20-30 lakh children with comorbidities that will be eligible for this vaccine.

As of now, Covaxin is being tested for use in children. Once it receives emergency approval, children above the age of 2 can receive that vaccine. Besides that, clinical trials will begin soon for other vaccine candidates like Biological E and Serum Institute of India.

There are around 44 crore children under the age of 18, out of which around 12 crore are between the ages of 12 and 17. The government, however, has decided to prioritise those with comorbidities as they are more vulnerable and prone to infection.