Russian Vaccine Not Among 9 In Advanced Test Stages: WHO

London: The vaccine approved by Russia this week is not among the nine being considered in the advanced stages of testing.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nine experimental Covid-19 vaccines have been included in an investment mechanism, Covax facility, in which countries are encouraged to join.

“The initiative allows countries to invest in several vaccines to obtain early access, while theoretically providing funding for developing countries,” a PTI report said.

A senior adviser to WHO’s director-general, Dr Bruce Aylward said that they did not have sufficient information to make a judgment on the Russia vaccine.

“We’re currently in conversation with Russia to get additional information to understand the status of that product, the trials that have been undertaken and then what the next steps might be,” the PTI quoted him as saying.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the approval of a coronavirus vaccine for use and claimed that it was “world-first”.

Developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute, the vaccine has been named Sputnik-V, a reference to the surprise 1957 launch of the world’s first satellite by the Soviet Union. It, however, has to go through crucial Phase 3 trials during which it would be administered to thousands of people, the CNN reported.