Russia is registering a version of the country’s Sputnik-V vaccine for children aged between 12 and 17, according to Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.
Ms Golikova has told a government meeting on Covid-19 that registration of the new treatment, named Gam-Covid-Vac, would take place later in the day, state news agency Tass reports.
She said it was hoped the vaccine would enter civilian circulation in Russia from the end of December.
The new vaccine will only be given to children under 15 with the consent of their parents or the child’s legal representative, and to children over 15 only with their own consent, Ms Golikova said.
Speaking at the same meeting, President Vladimir Putin urged the government to pay attention to the need for vaccines for children, but voiced scepticism about compulsory vaccination.
“On the whole, inoculations should be voluntary – specially for children,” Tass quoted him as saying.
BBC
