Russia completed human trials of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate

Russia has become the first country to have completed clinical trials of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate, after Sechenov University said that it had concluded its study.

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Elena Smolyarchuk, chief researcher for the Russian Center for Clinical Research on Medications at Sechenov University, told TASS newswire on Sunday that human trials for the vaccine had been completed and those test patients will be discharged soon.

“The research has been completed and it proved that the vaccine is safe. The volunteers will be discharged on July 15 and July 20,” Smolyarchuk was quoted as saying in the report.

There was no other information on when this vaccine would enter commercial production.

Russia granted authorization for clinical trials of two formulations of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate, which was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. The first one was carried out at the Burdenko Military Hospital. The other vaccine was given to test patients at the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. Some 20 people volunteered for the injection.

After being given the shot, the volunteers were asked to quarantine in the hospital for 28 days.

Earlier, results of the Covid-19 vaccine tests performed on a group of volunteers in Russia showed that they were developing immunity to the coronavirus.

Prior to the human trials, the vaccine was tested for its toxicity, safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness in large and small animals at the Russian Defence Ministry’s 48th Central research institute

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are at least 21 vaccines currently under trial worldwide. Every country and every lab is taking a different approach of finding the right solution to stop the virus from taking over the world at this point.

Malacañang on Tuesday expressed confidence that Russia would share its potential vaccine against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) once it becomes available.

Roque said he expects the Philippines to be one of the countries to benefit from Russia’s potential Covid-19 vaccine given President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy of being “friend to all, enemy to none.”