Johnson & Johnson has sought approval from Indian drug regulators to conduct a study of its Covid-19 vaccine among 12 to 17-year-olds, Reuters reports.

Conducting vaccine clinical trials among adolescents is imperative to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus, J&J said in an emailed statement.

The US pharma giant had received emergency use approval for its single-dose vaccine in India earlier this month, making it the fifth authorised vaccine in the country.