[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Russia has officially registered the world's first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. President Vladimir Putin announced this directly on the 11th (local time).
According to TASS news agency and others, President Putin chaired a remote cabinet meeting that day and explained, "This morning, the world's first COVID-19 vaccine was registered. It functions quite effectively and forms lasting immunity." President Putin emphasized that the vaccine underwent all necessary verification procedures.
President Putin mentioned that the vaccine was developed based on an adenovirus and has good efficacy, adding that one of his two daughters participated in the clinical trials and received the vaccination.
President Putin stated, "After the first dose, (my daughter's) temperature rose to 38 degrees Celsius but dropped to about 37 degrees the next day. After the second dose, her temperature rose slightly again but soon went down," and added, "She is currently in good health."
He expressed confidence in the upcoming mass production of the vaccine, saying, "It is important to produce enough for everyone who wants to be vaccinated."
Subsequently, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said, "Today, the Ministry of Health made the decision to nationally register the vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Center," reiterating that clinical trials demonstrated high efficacy and safety.
Minister Murashko stated, "A high level of COVID-19 antibodies was generated in all volunteers. No serious side effects from the vaccination were observed in anyone." He explained that vaccine production will be handled by the Gamaleya Center and the local pharmaceutical company Vinnopharm, while the Russian sovereign wealth fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which invested in the vaccine research, will be responsible for investments needed for production and overseas supply.
The minister introduced that phased vaccination for the general public will begin soon, with healthcare workers and teachers, who belong to high-risk infection groups, receiving the vaccine first.
The vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Center reportedly completed its first phase clinical trial last month in mid-July, involving 38 volunteers each at Moscow's Sechenov Medical University and Burdenko Military Hospital. The second phase clinical trial has reportedly started, but detailed information has not been disclosed.
Mass production and general public vaccination of this vaccine are expected to begin soon. However, Russia has broken the convention of conducting phase 1 to 3 clinical trials involving thousands to tens of thousands of people, accelerating the vaccination process. This has raised concerns in Russia and the West about serious side effects resulting from the hasty vaccination.
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