MOSCOW, August 11 (Online): President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia has become the first country in the world to give regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after barely two months of human trials, a move hailed by Moscow as evidence of its scientific prowess.
\nThe development paves the way for the mass inoculation of the Russian population, even as the final stage of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continue.
\nThe speed at which Russia is moving to roll out its vaccine highlights its determination to win the global race for an effective product, but has stirred concerns that it may be putting national prestige before sound science and safety.
\nSpeaking at a government meeting on state television, Putin said the vaccine, developed by Moscow\u2019s Gamaleya Institute, was safe and that it had even been administered to one of his daughters.
\n\u201cI know that it works quite effectively, forms strong immunity, and I repeat, it has passed all the needed checks,\u201d said Putin.
\nHe said he hoped the country would soon start mass producing the vaccine.
\nIts approval by the health ministry foreshadows the start of a larger trial involving thousands of participants, commonly known as a Phase III trial.
\nSuch trials, which require a certain rate of participants catching the virus to observe the vaccine\u2019s effect, are normally considered essential precursors for a vaccine to receive regulatory approval.
\nRegulators around the world have insisted that the rush to develop COVID-19 vaccines will not compromise safety. But recent surveys show growing public distrust in governments\u2019 efforts to rapidly produce such a vaccine.
\nRussian health workers treating COVID-19 patients will be offered the chance of volunteering to be vaccinated soon after the vaccine\u2019s approval, a source told Reuters last month.
\nMore than 100 possible vaccines are being developed around the world to try to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. At least four are in final Phase III human trials, according to WHO data.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MOSCOW, August 11 (Online): President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia has become the first country in the world to give regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after barely two months of human trials, a move hailed by Moscow as evidence of its scientific prowess. The development paves the way for the mass inoculation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":51669,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n