Russia rolls out virus vaccine
Covid-19 drug announced amid concerns over rushed results
President Vladimir Putin claims Russia has approved a vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against Covid-19 and that one of his daughters has been inoculated.
Yesterday’s announcement came after scientists in the West raised concerns about the speed of development of Russian vaccines, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners after coming under pressure from Moscow to deliver.
“This morning, for the first time in the world, a vaccine against the new coronavirus was registered” in Russia, he said during a televised video conference call with government ministers.
“I know it is quite effective and that it gives sustainable immunity.”
He said one of his daughters had been inoculated with the vaccine, which was developed by the Gamaleya research institute in coordination with the Russian defence ministry.
“In this sense she took part in the experiment,” Putin said, adding that she had a slight temperature after a second injection and “that’s all”.
“What counts most is for us to be able to ensure the unconditional safety of the use of this vaccine and its efficiency in the future.
“I hope that this will be accomplished,” Putin said.
Moscow has dubbed its new vaccine “Sputnik V” after the Soviet satellite, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund which finances the vaccine project,
said yesterday.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said clinical trials involving several thousand participants would continue.
Tatyana Golikova, a deputy prime minister in charge of health issues, said officials hoped vaccinations of medical staff could begin soon.
“We really hope that the vaccine can be produced in September, or even at the end of August or beginning of September, and the first category to be vaccinated will be medical personnel,” she said, quoted by Russian news agencies.
Russia has been pushing hard to develop a Covid-19 vaccine and said earlier this month that it hoped to launch mass production within weeks and turn out “several million” doses per month by next year.
The World Health Organisation last week urged Russia to follow established guidelines and go “through all the stages” necessary to develop a safe vaccine.
Spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters at the time that the WHO had not been officially notified of any Russian vaccine on the verge of being deployed.