In a major breakthrough, Russia on Tuesday became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, declaring it ready to use. President Vladimir Putin said that regulatory approval was given to the vaccine and that one of his daughters has already been inoculated.
Putin claimed that the vaccine underwent necessary tests and has proven efficient. However, a large group of scientists have been sceptical on rushing the vaccine even before Phase 3 trials.
However, the president emphasised that the vaccine developed by Gamaleya Institute was safe and had undergone all tests. Talking in a government meeting on state television, he mentioned said one of his two daughters had got vaccine shot.
Putin said that his daughter who had a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius on the day of the first vaccine injection noticed a drop in temperature ( 37 degrees) the following day. The president said that his daughter was feeling good and had high number of antibodies.
Putin said that the country would soon start mass producing the vaccine. The first to be inoculated are likely to be health workers, teachers and other risk groups. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said that vaccination of doctors would start as early as this month.
In a communiqué, the Health Ministry was quoted as saying that the vaccine was expected to provide immunity from the virus for up to two years.
As of now, more than a 100 possible vaccines are being developed around the world. The WHO has already said that four vaccines are in final Phase III human trials.
