President Vladimir Putin today said Russia had become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine, WHO says discussing prequalification.
Russian President Vladmir Putin announced the registration of the country’s first coronavirus vaccine Russia had become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, vaccine is developed jointly by Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.
The World Health Organisation and Russian health authorities are now discussing the process for possible WHO prequalification for Covid-19 vaccine, a WHO spokesman said on Tuesday.
“We are in close contact with Russian health authorities and discussions are ongoing with respect to possible WHO prequalification of the vaccine, but again prequalification of any vaccine includes the rigorous review and assessment of all required safety and efficacy data,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a U.N. briefing in Geneva, referring to clinical trials.
Putin further thanked everyone who worked on the vaccine’s development and described it as “a very important step for the world”. He hopes the country’s research body will soon start mass production of coronavirus vaccine.
“I know that it works quite effectively, forms strong immunity, and I repeat, it has passed all the needed checks,” said Putin.
He emphasized that the vaccine underwent the necessary tests. He added that one of his two daughters has received a shot of the vaccine and is feeling well, according to Associated Press reports.
However, the vaccine’s registration is conditional and trials will continue while production gets underway, said Murashko.
Murashko also added that the first Russian vaccine against the coronavirus will begin to be produced at two sites – the Gamaleya Research Institute and the company Binnopharm.
“The two-stage injection plan helps form a lasting immunity. The experience with vector vaccines and two-stage scheme shows that immunity lasts for up to two years”, the Health Ministry said, as reported by Sputnik News.
Meanwhile, WHO had earlier said all vaccine candidates should go through full stages of testing before being rolled out.