Russia is the first country in the world to approve a novel coronavirus vaccine in less than two weeks, reports CNN. However, questions arise as to whether Russia is approving the Covid-19 vaccine after examining its safety and effectiveness.
According to a CNN report, Russian officials are working toward a date of August 10 or earlier for the vaccine’s approval. Scientists at Gamaleya Institute in Moscow have developed the vaccine.
Speaking to the media, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, “It’s a Sputnik moment”.
He referred to the successful 1957 launch of the world’s first satellite by the Soviet Union.
The Americans were surprised at the launch of Sputnik. The same is going to happen with coronavirus vaccines. Russia will be the first to get there, he added.
However, researchers in other parts of the world are concerned about this. So far, Russia has not released any scientific information on the vaccine. Clinical trials of modern or Oxford vaccines have come to light.
Russia claims, however, that Russian troops volunteered for the vaccine trial. Alexander Ginsberg, director of the project, said he has already injected himself with the vaccine.
As per the report, the Russian vaccine is yet to complete its second phase of trials while some vaccines being researched worldwide are already in the third phase.