So Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia has developed the first Coronavirus vaccine. Should we believe this?
Putin states that his daughter took the vaccine and was fine, but the vaccine still hasn’t passed phase 3 trials which has many scientists concerned.
Coronavirus vaccine approved for use in Russia, President Vladimir Putin announces
Experts have raised concerns, suggesting researchers may be cutting cornershttps://t.co/9s1tn9pdln
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 11, 2020
The announcement came after less than two months of human testing, sparking concerns that the country is putting national prestige before sound science and safety https://t.co/VC8dNNuBdv
— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 11, 2020
Russia on Tuesday became the first country to officially register a coronavirus vaccine and declare it ready for use, despite international skepticism https://t.co/hsZ0GH4JsF
— TIME (@TIME) August 11, 2020
Fox News released new information regarding Putin claiming Russia has made a Corona Virus vaccine:
Russia on Tuesday claimed to be the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine, with President Vladimir Putin announcing it is safe for use and that one of his daughters has already been inoculated.
The announcement comes as scientists in the U.S. and abroad warned that administering the vaccine before Phase 3 trials — which normally last for months and involve thousands of people — could backfire.
Speaking at a government meeting Tuesday, Putin said the vaccine has undergone proper testing and is safe. He emphasized that vaccination will be voluntary.
“I know it has proven efficient and forms a stable immunity, and I would like to repeat that it has passed all the necessary tests,” he said. “We must be grateful to those who made that first step very important for our country and the entire world.”
The Russian leader added that one of his two adult daughters has received two shots of the vaccine.
“She has taken part in the experiment,” Putin said, adding that his daughter had a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) on the day of the first vaccine injection, and then it dropped to just over 37 degrees (98.6 Fahrenheit) the following day.
After the second shot, she again had a slight increase in temperature before recovering, he claimed.
“She’s feeling well and has high number of antibodies,” Putin added. He didn’t specify which of his two daughters — Maria or Katerina — received the vaccine.
Vaccination will begin while the Phase 3 trials continue, said Professor Alexander Gintsburg, head of the Gamaleya Institute that developed the vaccine.
Russian authorities have said medical workers, teachers and other risk groups will be the first to be inoculated.
The Health Ministry said in Tuesday’s statement that the vaccine is expected to provide immunity from the coronavirus for up to two years.
Russian officials have said that large-scale production of the vaccine will start in September, and mass vaccination may begin as early as October.
BBC also reported that Russia has claimed to have the world’s first vaccine for coronavirus and said:
Mr Putin said the vaccine had passed all the required checks, adding that his daughter had already been given it.
Officials have said they plan to start mass vaccination in October.
Experts have raised concerns about the speed of Russia’s work, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners.
Amid fears that safety could have been compromised, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Russia last week to follow international guidelines for producing a vaccine against Covid-19.
On Tuesday, the WHO said it had been in talks with Russian authorities about undertaking a review of the vaccine, which has been named Sputnik-V.
Currently, the Russian vaccine is not among the WHO’s list of six vaccines that have reached phase three clinical trials, which involve more widespread testing in humans.
I really do hope Putin put his country’s well being in his decision to give out the vaccine instead of his pride. Only time will tell if Russia’s vaccine is completely safe as more people take the vaccine.
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