Some 220 million Chinese children and young people have been confined for prolonged periods due to Covid restrictions, the Education Ministry estimated in 2020.

Moderna CEO Staphane Bancel says based on dialogue with the US Food and Drug Administration, he believes his company's Covid-19 vaccine will be authorised for 12-17-year-olds in the next few weeks.

The Cyberspace Administration of China says the revisions to its 2015 regulations come in the wake of laws to protect the privacy of personal data, such as one that takes effect on Nov 1.

China's two main vaccines have been approved for use in children from the age of three but authorities in charge of the vaccination rollout have yet to make children under 12 eligible.

Severe illness from the novel coronavirus is most common among adults, but there is a lack of data on the virus' impact on youths, who are far less prone to serious complications, the health ministry says.

The programme will be rolled out at schools, with the consent of parents or guardians, targeting around three million children.