In a recent development related to the Covid-19 vaccine, the health ministry of Russia on Tuesday has confirmed that their authorities have released the first batch of its Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, for the use of the general public.
Developed by Russia’s government and Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, the vaccine was registered and revealed publicly on August 12.
Russian health ministers have released their statement which also states that they are also expecting the mass supply of the medication to begin soon.
“The first batch of the ‘Gam-COVID-Vac’ (Sputnik V) vaccine for the prevention of the new coronavirus infection, developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, has passed the necessary quality tests in the laboratories of Roszdravnadzor (medical device regulator) and has been released into civil circulation,” the ministry added further in the statement.
CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, also confirmed that the clinical trials for Sputnik V will be held in September across India along with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, and Brazil.
He also affirmed that they are in close communication with the Indian government officials to manufacture the vaccine at a large level
While quoting RDIF CEO, ANI reported a post-registration studies involving more than 40,000 people began 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, UAE, Philippines, India, and Brazil will begin this month. The preliminary results of the Phase 3 trial will be published in October-November 2020.