Alexander Gintsburg, the director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, announced the timeline for when the updated “Sputnik” vaccine for children aged 12 to 17 will be released, reports TASS. The Gamaleya Center’s director reported that the application for registration of the vaccine with the updated composition has been submitted to the Russian Ministry of Health. Specialists at the Gamaleya Center have begun studies on the updated composition of the “Sputnik” vaccine, intended for younger children, ages 6-11. In December 2023, the updated “Sputnik Light” vaccine was introduced into civilian circulation. Clinical trials conducted by researchers have shown the vaccine to be safe, with a good level of immunogenicity and minimal side effects. In February 2024, the Russian Academy of Sciences granted permission for the study of the updated vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 in children aged 6-11. Previously, the director of the Gamaleya Center specified that the vaccines would be tested in phases: first for adults, then for teenagers, and finally for younger children.