COVID-19:Russia To Commence Large-scale Provision Of Vaccine In September
Russia will start large-scale provision of the coronavirus vaccine in September, Health Ministers Mikhail Murashko stated on Monday.
“The vaccines will be supplied first and foremost to health care workers and teachers,” Murashko disclosed in comments carried by state news agency TASS.
The vaccination “will be absolutely voluntary,” Murashko indicated.
Russia was the first country to approve a vaccine for the novel coronavirus that it said could be used by the general public.
Around 40,000 volunteers are in a phase 3 trial of the vaccine, state media reported.
The vaccine which was developed by a state laboratory was initially tested on the lab’s workers and then volunteer soldiers. No significant side effects have been reported.
The vaccine called Sputnik, was named after the first man-made satellite by the Soviet Union to achieve orbit.
Endorsing the vaccine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said one of his daughters was inoculated with it successfully, without any side effect worse than a slight, temporary fever.
Russia has reported close to 1 million cases of the novel coronavirus, the world’s fourth-biggest caseload.
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