China has approved emergency use of Sinovac Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine in people aged between three and 17, its chairman Yin Weidong has told state TV late.

When Sinovac's vaccine will be offered to younger groups depends on health authorities formulating China's inoculation strategies, Yin told state TV in a live interview.

Yin said minors have lower priority for vaccination against the coronavirus compared with the elderly, who face a higher risk of severe symptoms after infection.

Preliminary results from Phase I and II clinical trials showed the vaccine could trigger immune response in three to 17-year-old participants, and most adverse reactions were mild, according to a Reuters report.