Logunov noted that the coronavirus can be dangerous for both older children and young children.
“Therefore, in fact, the vaccine is being developed,” said the specialist.
He explained: “you need to clearly understand that the coronavirus is most dangerous for the cohort of older people, it is 65+, 70+,” noting that the highest mortality rate is recorded in this age category.
“It is not comparable, of course, with the child population.
But meanwhile, there are all sorts of cases among children, and children can also be seriously ill.
Therefore, in fact, in order to close this part of the population, a vaccine is being created, ”he said.
The specialist also commented on the beginning of the third phase of testing the Sputnik M vaccine for children aged 12-17 years.
“The main task of the first and second phases is, in fact, dose selection and safety.
Of course, there is information on the first or second phase.
First, a completely safe dose for children has been selected, this is 1/5 of the adult dose.
Children do not tolerate it well, but very well, ”said Logunov.
According to him, the data were submitted not only to the national regulator, but also to the Independent Data Monitoring Committee.
“That is, everywhere these data are recognized not just convincing, but very convincing.
Therefore, in fact, the third phase started.
And the immunogenicity is shown to be high in children.
And here the immunogenicity is even higher, the average biometric values, the median titers are higher than in the adult population, ”the epidemiologist noted.
According to him, "this is not surprising: we still have children with an intact immune system, active, so they respond very well to vaccination."
Earlier, the Moscow authorities said that, according to preliminary data from clinical studies, the Sputnik M coronavirus vaccine for adolescents was recognized as safe and effective.