Though the Centre has suggested that there isn't any evidence that the third wave of COVID will affect children, it has planned to noculate 80 per cent of the 130 million children aged between 12-18 years.
For this, the government needs to procure at least 210 million doses of a two-dose vaccine.
There appears to be no substantial evidence to suggest that children will be more affected or have greater illness severity due to COVID-19 in the anticipated third wave, according to a new report.
The Lancet COVID-19 Commission India Task Force prepared the report after convening an experts group comprising leading paediatricians from the country to examine the issue of ˇ®paediatric COVID-19' in India.
It said the infection's symptomatology in children in India appears to be globally comparable.
"Most children with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and amongst those symptomatic mild infections are predominant. Most children have fever with respiratory symptoms, and often present with gastrointestinal symptoms (such as diarrhea, vomiting, pain in abdomen) and atypical manifestation compared to adults. The proportion of symptomatic children increases as age increases as does the severity in such age groups," the report stated.