Russia is the first government to authorize the Covid-19 vaccine, Putin states.

 

Russia is the first government to authorize the Covid-19 vaccine, Putin states.

president of Russia

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that, after just less than 2 months of human testing, Russia was the first country in the world to give regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine, a step Moscow welcomed as proof of its scientific prowess. Mr. Putin said the vaccine had passed all the necessary checks and stated that it had already been given to his daughter.

The progress paves the way for widespread inoculation by the Russian population, even as the final phase of clinical trials continues to test health and efficacy.

The speed at which Russia is moving to carry out its vaccine underlines its determination to win the global race for an effective drug, but has stirred fears that it may put national prestige above sound science and health.

Experts said they plan to keep mass vaccination in October. Experts have raised concerns about the speed of Russia's work, suggesting that researchers may be cutting corners.

Despite concerns that health may have been compromised, last week the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Russia to follow international recommendations for the manufacture of a Covid-19 vaccine. The WHO said it was in negotiations with Russian authorities on Tuesday to conduct a vaccine examination dubbed Sputnik-V.

What has been the reaction to Russian vaccine efforts?

covid 19 vaccine

Russia's progress on a coronavirus vaccine has been met with skepticism by US and European health officials and media outlets.

Last month, Dr. Anthony Fauci, America's leading infectious disease expert, raised concerns about the rationality of the research cycle in Russia and China's fast-track vaccine efforts.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier expressed those words, telling reporters on 4 August: "Often individual researchers claim to have discovered something that is, of course, fantastic news as well.

"So it's a huge difference between discovering and getting an impression of potentially having a vaccine that works, and going through all the steps."

 

Meanwhile, the Moscow-based Association of Clinical Trial Organizations (Acto), Russia 's top drug company in the world, has urged the Ministry of Health to postpone approval until after phase three trials.

 

The Acto Executive Director, Svetlana Zavidova, told the Russian MedPortal site that a decision on mass vaccination had been taken after combined first-and second-phase tests on 76 people was impossible to confirm the efficacy of the drug on this basis.