Russia produces 1st batch of vaccine for civilians
| Date :09-Sep-2020 |
MOSCOW,
Russia became first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine after it registered ‘Sputnik V’ last month
IN SOME good news for millions living in hope for a COVID-19 vaccine shot, the Russian Health Ministry said on Tuesday that the first batch of Sputnik V vaccine has been produced for civilian circulation. The supplies of the medication to the Russian regions are expected soon, Health Ministry said, reports ‘Tass’ news agency. “The first batch of the vaccine for preventing the novel coronavirus infection, Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry passed the required quality tests and was produced for civilian circulation.
“In the near future, the supplies of the first batches of the vaccine to the regions are expected,” the Ministry said. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko earlier explained that civilian production at this stage meant vaccination of citizens from the risk groups, mainly teachers and doctors. Earlier this month, a study published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘The Lancet’ said that a Russian COVID-19 vaccine has shown no serious side effects and elicited an immune response in early human trials. Russia last month registered the “Sputnik V”, becoming the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine. On August 15, the Russian Health Ministry announced the launch of the vaccine production.
The Lancet study’s authors also held that large, long-term trials, including a placebo comparison, and further monitoring are needed to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing COVID-19 infection. The Indian Government said late last month that New Delhi and Moscow are in communication regarding the Sputnik V vaccine.
Clinical trial of Sputnik V to begin in India, other countries
MOSCOW,
Sept 8 (ANI)
THE clinical trials of Sputnik V vaccine for coronavirus will be held this month in several countries including India, confirmed Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Monday. Dmitriev told Sputnik that the clinical trials in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines, India and Brazil will begin this month. “The post-registration studies involving more than 40,000 people started in Russia on August 26, before AstraZeneca has started its Phase 3 trial in the US with 30,000 participants. Clinical trials in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines, India and Brazil will begin this month.
The preliminary results of the Phase 3 trial will be published in October-November 2020,” said Dmitriev. Russia was in close dialogue with the Indian Government and the leading drug manufactures of India regarding the localisation of production of Sputnik V vaccine in India. On August 11, the Sputnik V vaccine developed jointly by RDIF and the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia and became the world’s first registered vaccine against COVID-19. “India is one of the leading countries in production.
Around 60 per cent of all the vaccines in the world are produced in India. We are in close dialogue with the corresponding ministries and India Government and the leading manufacturer of the country regarding localisation of production of Sputnik V vaccine in India. And we have achieved certain agreements with the leading companies,” Dmitriev said earlier.