MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has extended the coronavirus vaccine to children ages 12 to 17 to new regions as the country suffers its biggest wave of infections yet due to the highly contagious omicron variant.
Earlier in the week, free shots of Sputnik M — a lower-dose version of the Sputnik V vaccine — became available in a range of areas from around Moscow to the Urals and Siberia to the Far East.
On Wednesday, vaccinations began for adolescents in Volgograd, Astrakhan and Kursk. In Moscow, the campaign will start in the next few days, Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova told reporters.
Children under 15 years of age must have parental authorization to receive the vaccine, while those between 15 and 17 years of age can do so on their own.
For a few weeks, Russia has suffered an unprecedented wave of coronavirus infections, with a daily number of confirmed cases that has increased fivefold from January 10 to date. Those most affected by the surge are Moscow and its surroundings and Saint Petersburg, which comprise almost half of the daily cases.
Officials in Moscow and St. Petersburg warned on Wednesday that there has been a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections in children.
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