The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has announced that Russia has finally approved the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine and added that he has tested the vaccine on his daughter and the vaccine worked.
According to the President, the vaccine was developed at Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute and its large-scale production is projected to commence in September while mass vaccination may start as early as October.
The vaccine has gone through less than two months of human testing but while speaking to Government officials recently, Putin said one of his two daughters is part of those who have tested the new vaccine.
Putin however did not specify his daughter that took the vaccine but revealed she had a temperature of 38°C on the day of her first injection and the temperature dropped to 37°C the following day.
According to him, she had a little increase in temperature after she took the second injection but she is now ‘feeling well’. He disclosed she had a ‘high number of antibodies’.
Since the vaccine’s testing has passed the first stage, the next stage which is commonly known as a Phase III trial will involve thousands of testers. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are over 100 possible COVID-19 vaccines currently being developed globally.
This phase III trial stage is normally considered an important precursor before a vaccine can get regulatory approval and be shared worldwide.
While talking aboit the vaccine, Putin said: “I know that it works quite effectively, forms strong immunity, and I repeat, it has passed all the needed checks.”
The Health Ministry said in a statement that the vaccine is expected to offer immunity from the coronavirus for up to two years.
