Coronavirus: Russia to conduct vaccine trials on 40,000 people

Russia has announced that clinical trials of its newly-developed coronavirus vaccine will be started next week. Trials will involve tens of thousands of people.

According to the international news agency, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, which finances the vaccine development, announced in a statement that trials of “immunogenicity and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine” will commence next week. More than 40,000 will take part in the trial.

It said that the trials were similar to the Phase 3 trials that other vaccines are undergoing.

Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriyev said in an online briefing that the vaccination of at-risk groups will also begin next week on a voluntary basis.

He said that more than 20 countries have requested to buy over a million doses. He also said that Russia has signed deals with various countries for vaccine production.

In addition to this, Mr. Dmitriyev also said that vaccination is likely to begin in October in the country. Whereas, foreign deliveries are likely to begin in November or December.

“We have seen a significant change in tone from the WHO. At first, yes, they did not have enough information on the Russian vaccine, now official information has been sent and they will evaluate it,”

But he added: “We do not see any obstacle for individual regulators to approve the Russian vaccine without the approval of the WHO.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has earlier announced that the country has registered the world’s first coronavirus vaccine early Tuesday.

Vladimir Putin said that Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute has successfully registered the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine for use. He also said that his daughter is among those who have tested the medicine.