France, Oct. 3 -- India has allowed a local biotechnology firm to enlist kids between sevenand 11 years forits trial of U.S. drug-maker Novavax's Covid-19 vaccineas the nation looked beyond protecting its adults from coronavirus with 890 million jabs already given.

National health regulators said permission was handed out to Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume which is locally producing the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 shots.

"After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for allowing enrolment of subjects of the seven to 11 years age group as per the protocol," a subject expert panel of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said.

The announcement came as schools and coll...