Russia Expects World’s First COVID-19 Vaccine Approval by Mid-August, Says Report

New Delhi: Russia is targeting to be the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine to be used widely in less than two weeks’ time despite safety and efficacy concerns, as per reports. The Russian military and government researchers-developed adenoviral vector-based vaccine is now in phase 2 of the trials.

Going by a CNN report, Russian officials are expecting that the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute-developed vaccine will be approved for public use on or before August 10. The outlets have been told that the vaccine would have approval for public use and healthcare officials will be the first ones to receive it.

“It’s a Sputnik moment,” Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, was quoted as saying by CNN. He was referring to the successful launch of the world’s first satellite by the Soviet Union in 1957.

“Americans were surprised when they heard Sputnik’s beeping. It’s the same with this vaccine. Russia will have got there first,” Dmitriev added.