Russia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Untested For Children, Elderly: Health Official

Moscow: A top Russian health official has said that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the country is recommended to be used for individuals from 18 to 60 years as of now.

Vladimir Bondarev, the head of the Russian Health Ministry’s Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products, informed that more clinical studies are needed for older people and these are expected to be carried out during post-registration clinical trials, according to a media report.

“In Russia, it is customary to certify (vaccines for) children from birth to 18 years old; adults from 18 to 60 years old; and older people who are over 60 years old. Clinical studies have now been carried out on a group of volunteers aged from 18 to 60 years old. Thus, this vaccine is now indicated for use in people from 18 to 60 years old,” Bondarev was quoted as saying by Sputnik news agency.

However, Alexander Gintsburg, the director of the Gamaleya Research Institute that developed the vaccine, claimed that he was vaccinated and he felt good, the news agency reported. He is in his late 60s.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced that his country was the first in the world to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing.

Putin had further said that one of his daughters was also given the vaccine as part of a trial.

Also Read: Necessary To Assess Russian COVID-19 Vaccine’s Safety & Effectiveness: AIIMS Director