National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after N.F. Gamalei is preparing a package of documents to start a study on the effect of the coronavirus vaccine on children. This was announced by the director of the center, Alexander Gintsburg, at a briefing on Wednesday, August 12.
According to him, “somewhere in 3-4-5 months, this protocol, fully worked out” will be submitted to the relevant health department of the Ministry of Health for its possible approval. He noted that the protocol will include several groups of children, for example, from 18 to 14 years old, then up to 12 years old and from 12 years old and below.
“And only after that it is possible to start researching this particular vaccine, and not a new vaccine, most likely, its various dosages in the children’s population of our country,” Gintsburg explained.
According to Russian legislation, studies of the effect of drugs on children can only be started after studies on the adult population have been completed.
According to the Minister of Health of Russia Mikhail Murashko, as of August 11, there were nine children with coronavirus in intensive care units – all of them are older.
The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the registration in our country of the world’s first coronavirus vaccine developed by this center. The drug is called “Sputnik V” by analogy with the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite in 1957.
First, the vaccinations will be given to health workers. The effectiveness of the drug will be assessed based on the results of the formation of population immunity.
Information on the situation with the coronavirus is available on the websites of stopcoronavirus.rf and access to all.rf. Hot line phone: 8 (800) 2000-112. In addition, information is available under the hashtag #WeWeTogether.