Russia is all set to launch the COVID-19 vaccine, which is claimed to be the first one globally. It is claimed that the vaccine will be launched by 12th August, and it will be used to vaccinate everyone as a shield against the deadly virus. The Health Ministry of Russia confirmed that the vaccine registration of the vaccine would be done by this week. The vaccine is currently being manufactured at Gamaleya Research Institute, Moscow. Post registration, the vaccine will be first tried on 1600 people to check for effectiveness and safety.
Clinical Trials of Covid-19 Vaccine in Russia
The clinical trials of the vaccine were done on 76 volunteers that began on 17th June. Half were given the vaccine in liquid form while the others were treated with the soluble form. If reports are to be believed, the testing team also volunteered for the testing of the vaccine.
Talking of the effects, the Russian Defence Ministry said,
The results of the check-up early demonstrate an unmistakable immune response attained through the vaccination. No side effects or issues with the volunteers were found.
The Director of Gamaleya Research Institute, Alexander Ginsburg, told that the vaccine had been developed using inanimate particles based on the adenovirus. According to the Sputnik news agency, the director has confirmed about the vaccine being harmless.
He said,
The particles and objects that can reproduce their kind are the ones that are considered alive. The particles in question cannot multiply.
He further added,
Some people naturally have a fever when the immune system of the person being vaccinated receives a powerful boost but this “side-effect” can easily be overcome by taking paracetamol.
The mass production of the vaccine is likely to go down on floors by September, while the medical professionals and teachers would be the first ones to be vaccinated. After the mass production, October would see the launch of vaccines.
At the same time, many experts have also expressed their concerns regarding the vaccine.
Experts on Covid-19 Vaccine
Lawrence Gostin, the global public health law expert from Georgetown University said, “I’m worried that Russia is cutting corners so that the vaccine that will come out maybe not just ineffective, but also unsafe.”
Since the vaccine is approaching pretty fast, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US infectious disease specialist expressing his concern, said, “I do hope that the Chinese and Russians are actually testing a vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone, because claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing I think is problematic at best.”
Russia’s Vektor State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology has also been developing the Covid-19 vaccine.
Moreover, WHO earlier said that they received no formal information regarding the launch or data about the vaccine. However, now it states that Russia should follow all the guidelines given out by WHO for the development of safe vaccines.
The WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier in an interview at the United Nations in Geneva said,
There are established practices, and there are guidelines out,
he further added,
Between finding or having a clue of maybe having a vaccine that works, and having gone through all the stages, is a big difference.
Now, we can only hope that the vaccine will be out soon and that we can try resuming our normal life again.
