Russia Becomes the First Nation to Announce Coronavirus Vaccine Tagged Sputnik V

This day Russia writes a new chapter in World History by becoming the first country to launch a coronavirus vaccine as announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The registration of the vaccine lays foundation for mass immunization though the final stages of clinical trials to assess safety and effectiveness continue. 

The much awaited announcement comes in at a time when the novel coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 20 million people and killed around 740,000 globally, thus, paralyzing world economies. According to reports, Russia tagged its newly launched vaccine "Sputnik V" after the Soviet satellite.

As per Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund which finances the vaccine project, Phase 3 trials would start on August 12, Wednesday, and industrial production is expected from September. Also twenty countries had pre-ordered more than a billion doses. Russian news agencies suggest that the president has asked Health Minister Mikhail Murashko to keep him informed about the Covid-19 vaccine, while at the same time noting that he knows "it works quite effectively", "forms a stable immunity" and “it has passed all the needed checks”.

The President also added that one of his two daughters has received a shot of the vaccine and is feeling well, according to Associated Press reports.

According to the news agency AFP "This morning, for the first time in the world, a vaccine against the new coronavirus was registered" in Russia, Putin said during a televised video conference call with government officials. Putin further appreciated the vaccine's development team and described it as "a very important step for the world". The country's research body is expected to start mass production of the coronavirus vaccine soon. However, the vaccine’s registration is conditional and trials will continue while production gets underway, said Murashko. He 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.

According to Sputnik News "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.

According to a WHO spokesperson, currently, WHO and Russian health authorities are discussing the process for possible WHO prequalification for its newly approved COVID-19 vaccine.

On June 18 clinical trials of the vaccine began and comprised 38 volunteers, all of whom developed immunity. The first group was discharged on July 15 and the second group on July 20. In an earlier report by the Russian Defence Ministry, the final check-up of volunteers testing the coronavirus vaccine showed immunity in all participants.

However, various healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceutical companies have called Russia’s accelerated registration dangerous. They have questioned its extensive push to develop a vaccine as soon as this year's end. The roll-out of this vaccine has stirred concerns that it may be putting national prestige before science and safety. More than hundred possible vaccines are being developed around the world to control the pandemic. At least four are in final Phase III human trials, as per WHO sources.

Companies including AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna Inc. are still conducting final-stage trials of their vaccines in studies that are expected to soon produce results. Pune based Serum Institute of India (SII), has said the coronavirus vaccine may be ready by the end of this year and that the final price of the anti-virus dose will be announced in two months. SII is part of an agreement with AstraZeneca, which along with Oxford University, has developed a vaccine that has reported satisfactory progress from the test results.