MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. The vaccination of children against COVID-19 as part of clinical trials will start from the age category of 9-11 years, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Gintsburg told TASS, adding that first 16 volunteers together with parents had already undergone a preliminary screening procedure.

"Children aged 9-11 will be vaccinated first, followed by kids of younger age of 6-9 years. Sixteen children aged 9-11 with parents have already undergone a preliminary screening procedure at the basis of two medical centers and given their consent," he said.

On January 24, the Russian Health Ministry approved clinical trials of an anti-coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Center on children between six and eleven years old. Earlier, Gintsburg said the trials might take up to three and a half months.